Uranium

Uranium Isotopes
Uranium at Kvanefjeld
Radiation and the Environment
Uranium
 

 

Radiation and the Environment

When people think of uranium, they often associate it with radiation, and because it is so commonly occurring, it contributes part of the background radiation that surrounds us in everyday life. Radiation is a form of energy that can move through air and some solid materials, and is commonly considered in two forms, non-ionizing, and ionizing.
Non-ionizing forms of radiation are generated by microwaves, cell phones, and radio and television signals. Non-ionizing radiation is generally not harmful, but can be dangerous at high levels.
Sources of ionizing radiation include radioactive materials in the ground, air and water, cosmic radiation from outer space, as well as x-rays used for medical purposes. Ionizing radiation can be harmful at high levels of exposure. During the mining of uranium-bearing ores, people can be exposed to radiation, but such exposure is rarely harmful, particularly with relatively low-grade uranium ores. In Saskatchewan, Canada, uranium ores with uranium grades as high as 20% are safely mined. These are considered as extremely high-grade ores. In contrast, low-grade uranium ores are considered to be those in the range of 0.02 – 0.2% uranium, and are associated with considerably lower levels of radiation.
Due to the potential dangers associated with high doses of radiation a number of regulations have been put in place by governments and industry to protect the general public. Guidelines and recommendations are established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), an independent non-profit organization. Governments and regulatory bodies draw on these recommendations when making policies in regard to safety and radiation.
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