Enriched uranium may end up in the environment through accidents in nuclear power plants


People always experience exposure to a definite amount of uranium from food, air, soil and water, as it is naturally present in all these components. Food, such as root vegetables, and water will provide us with small amounts of natural uranium and we will breathe in minimum concentrations of uranium with air. The concentrations of uranium in seafood are generally very low that they can be safely ignored.

People who live near hazardous waste sites, people who live near mines, people who work in the phosphate industry, people who eat crops grown on contaminated soil or people who drink water from a uranium waste disposal point may experience a higher exposure than other people. Uranium glazes are banned, but some artists who still use them for glasswork will experience a higher-than-usual exposure.

Because uranium is a radioactive substance health effects have been researched, Scientists had found that no harmful radiation effects of natural levels of uranium. However, chemical effects may occur after the intake of large amounts of uranium and these can cause health effects such as kidney disease.

When people are exposed to uranium radio nuclides that are formed during radioactive decay for a long period of time, they may possibly develop cancer. The chances of getting cancer are much greater when people are exposed to enriched uranium, because that is a more radioactive form of uranium. This form of uranium gives off damaging radiation, which can cause people to widen cancer within a few years. Enriched uranium may end up in the environment through accidents in nuclear power plants. Whether uranium can cause reproductive effects in people it is currently unknown.

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