URANIUM FACTS & ARTICLES
Uranium; how it is used, how it is mined and processed. Here are some basic facts:
- Uranium is a common heavy element, found in most rocks and sea water.
- There are many sources of natural radiation, including radiation from the sun, and from sources such as uranium in rocks and water.
- Radiation exposure is reduced to very low levels (well below international exposure guidelines) by minimizing handling time, maximizing distance to radioactive materials, regular hand washing and wearing of protective equipment — including gloves, safety glasses and coveralls.
- Radiation is easily monitored by wearing thermoluminescent dosimeter devices (TLD badges) which measure radiation exposure. These are the same as those badges worn by x-ray technicians in hospitals.
- Typical background radiation — which everyone experiences — is approximately 2 milli sieverts (mSv) per year.
- If you were to take an eight-hour flight from coast-to-coast… at an elevation of 30,000 feet — the dose of radiation would be approximately 0.043 milli sieverts. By comparison, the highest expected public dosage from a high-grade uranium mine is between 0.025 and 0.032 milli sieverts for a four-month period (annually from 0.075 to 0.096 milli sieverts). In other words, living near a high-grade uranium mine, for one year, is comparable to taking one round trip flight from New York to Los Angeles.
- Uranium’s primary commercial use is to provide fuel for nuclear power reactors, which generate electricity.
- One ton of natural uranium can produce more than 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. This is equivalent to burning 16,000 tons of coal or 80,000 barrels of oil.
- When processed into fuel for nuclear reactors, uranium produces significant quantities of safe energy, economically and with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
- Nuclear energy has the lowest impact on the environment of any major energy source.
- 17% of world electricity is generated from uranium in nuclear reactors.
