5. PUBLIC HEALTH

5.1 Ultimately, there is no safe level of radiation exposure and even a low dose of radiation may create long lasting damage.

5.2 Radiation exposure can induce cancer and inheritable genetic damage which may only be visible in the longer term. The type of cancer produced depends on the type of radiation, nature of the radioisotope and where it is deposited or concentrated in the body [49]. The families of workers, as well as workers themselves, have been shown to be at a significantly higher risk of cancer as a result of living near a uranium mine. A South Australian Health Commission report showed the incidence of childhood leukaemia in the children of mine workers is 1 in 200 which is 10 times the national average. [50]

5.3 The public health risks of radiation exposure include the risk of an accident or spill into the surrounding environment during the transport of uranium oxide.

5.4 There is also a public health risk associated with the disposal and storage of wastes. Uranium has a half life of 24000 years and so far we have proved incapable of devising either a safe method of radioactive waste disposal or a method of long term storage.

5.5 The Ranger mine also poses further unacceptable risks to the public because the mine has as a part of its management plan the ability to release contaminated water into the Magela Creek. Contamination of the subterranean water and wetlands system may lead to contamination of the food chain and plant life which affects the local Aboriginal people who traditionally hunt and fish in the area.

5.6 There are a wide range of public health impacts from the end uses of uranium such as radiation leaks from nuclear power plants and the detonation of nuclear weapons and tests. The results are a range of health impacts from sudden death to longer term thyroid cancers and leukaemia. It is estimated that 430,000 fatal human cancers will have been produced by the year 2000, and an eventual total of 2.4 million cancers will result from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons alone. [51]

 

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