26
technological source is approximately the same. Not more than 30 years ago, the
situation was quite different: natural radiation was responsible for about 85%, while
the contribution from all other sources used in industry, medicine and other areas
was about 15%.
Uranium, as a naturally occurring radionuclide distributed in the environment,
also contributes to human exposure, although this exposure is under normal circumstances almost negligible. The control of the releases of radioactive material from
mining and milling installations should be controlled and regulated by the operating
companies in order to satisfy relevant national regulations for the protection of the
public.
3.3 Exposure of Miners
Early uranium mining had not good safety record mainly because of lack of applying efficient protection measures against health hazards associated with the exposure to high level of radiation, toxic chemicals, crystalline silica and dust. At the
beginning of extensive uranium mining in the 1950s, the occupational exposure
often exceeded the present standards (20 mSv y
−1
).
In addition to the hazards of conventional mining, uranium miners are at risk
mainly because of the inhalation of radioactive dust containing radon, its decay
products and other radionuclides present in uranium ore.
The nowadays uranium mining industry due to introduction of relevant safety
measures is characterized by a good safety record. The results of radiation exposure
of miners have shown that uranium workers do not received doses higher that the
dose limits introduced by relevant regulatory authorities (WNA 2018c). There are
several approaches how to further reduce doses of uranium workers:
Fig. 22 Percent
contribution of various
sources of radiation
exposure to the total
effective dose per
individual in the USA for
2006
J. Sabol
technological source is approximately the same. Not more than 30 years ago, the
situation was quite different: natural radiation was responsible for about 85%, while
the contribution from all other sources used in industry, medicine and other areas
was about 15%.
Uranium, as a naturally occurring radionuclide distributed in the environment,
also contributes to human exposure, although this exposure is under normal circumstances almost negligible. The control of the releases of radioactive material from
mining and milling installations should be controlled and regulated by the operating
companies in order to satisfy relevant national regulations for the protection of the
public.
3.3 Exposure of Miners
Early uranium mining had not good safety record mainly because of lack of applying efficient protection measures against health hazards associated with the exposure to high level of radiation, toxic chemicals, crystalline silica and dust. At the
beginning of extensive uranium mining in the 1950s, the occupational exposure
often exceeded the present standards (20 mSv y
−1
).
In addition to the hazards of conventional mining, uranium miners are at risk
mainly because of the inhalation of radioactive dust containing radon, its decay
products and other radionuclides present in uranium ore.
The nowadays uranium mining industry due to introduction of relevant safety
measures is characterized by a good safety record. The results of radiation exposure
of miners have shown that uranium workers do not received doses higher that the
dose limits introduced by relevant regulatory authorities (WNA 2018c). There are
several approaches how to further reduce doses of uranium workers:
Fig. 22 Percent
contribution of various
sources of radiation
exposure to the total
effective dose per
individual in the USA for
2006
J. Sabol