Neither of these is specific to uranium mining, but both have been prevalent historically in the uranium mining and processing industry. Radionuclides are not the only uranium mining- and processing-associated occupational exposures with potential adverse human health effects two other notable inhalation risks are posed by silica dust and diesel exhaust.regulations for oversight of processing facility tailings. The decay products of uranium (e.g., 230Th, 226Ra) provide a constant source of radiation in uranium tailings for thousands of years, substantially outlasting the current U.S.(e.g., to test study hypotheses) because of their ecological study design. A large proportion of the epidemiological studies performed in the United States, exploring adverse health effects from potential off-site radionuclide releases from uranium mining and processing facilities, have lacked the ability to evaluate causal relationships.This, in turn, can lead to a risk of cancer from drinking water (e.g., cancer of the bone) that is higher than the risk of cancer that would have existed had there been no radionuclide release from tailings. Because 230Th and 226Ra are present in mine tailings, these radionuclides and their decay products can-if not controlled adequately-contaminate the local environment under certain conditions, in particular by seeping into water sources and thereby increasing radionuclide concentrations.External radiation exposure (e.g., exposure to beta, gamma, and to a lesser extent, alpha radiation) can also present a health risk. Internal exposure to radioactive materials during uranium mining and processing can take place through inhalation, ingestion, or through a cut in the skin.The potential for adverse health effects related to releases of radionuclides is directly related to the population density near the mine or processing facility. The potential for adverse health effects increases if there are uncontrolled releases as a result of extreme events (e.g., floods, fires, earthquakes) or human error. Radiation exposures to the general population resulting from off-site releases of radionuclides (e.g., airborne radon decay products, airborne thorium-230 ( 230Th) or radium-226 ( 226Ra) particles, 226Ra in water supplies) present some risk. In particular, radium-226 and its decay products (e.g., bismuth-214 and lead-214) present alpha and gamma radiation hazards to uranium miners and processors. Workers are also at risk from exposure to other radionuclides, including uranium itself, which undergo radioactive decay by alpha, beta, or gamma emission.
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