This is for example the case in Central and Eastern Europe, where entire regions are condemned, not only by radioactive residues, but especially by the devastation of soils, and in particular groundwater .
These factors are unfortunately not often taken into account in the same way in the calculations, I think it would be wise to incorporate them, but how
For information:
Wikipedia wrote:
Environmental impact of a uranium mine
Uranium is a weakly radioactive element, which poses no danger to the environment if it remains in its natural state. However, after the dismantling of a uranium mine, more than 80% of the radioisotopes remain in the cuttings hills. The wind diffuses radioactive particles in all directions. The trickling water is contaminated and infiltrates into the groundwater or streams.
A working uranium mine produces a lot of waste:
* atmospheric releases: radon and radioactive dust. One of the most dangerous releases from a uranium mine is radon, a rare invisible and odorless gas that spreads from conditioning facilities and spoil hills or liquid waste tanks. Radon carries a risk of lung cancer.
* liquid discharges: mine water created by drilling and runoff inside the mine. Water can be pumped and treated before discharge.
* solid waste: sludge and precipitates from the treatment of liquid effluents.
* waste rock: extracted rocks which contain very little uranium and which are therefore not treated. The quantity of uranium mine waste rock reaches hundreds of millions of tonnes. If the waste rock is not well covered and located, it releases radon and radioactive dust into the air and by the infiltration of rainwater toxic and radioactive materials pass into ground and surface water.
* poor ores: ores whose uranium content is between 0,03 and 0,8% approximately. They are not always treated. Stocks pose the same problems as waste rock, compounded by the higher uranium content.
This waste exposes the environment to the radioactivity of uranium, which can lead to radioactive contamination of humans, fauna and flora. In addition, certain wastes not only have a danger linked to radioactivity but also a risk linked to the toxicity of conventional chemicals such as sulfuric acid and heavy metals, used for the treatment of uranium ore. Finally, we must also consider the nuisance of the mine due to:
* the total area of land occupied by the mine, which is higher for uranium than for the exploitation of other ores.
* the social impact for the natives residing on the exploitation site (examples in the USA, Canada, Africa, Australia, Tibet (cf Sun Xiaodi)…).
In December 2003, CRIIRAD carried out an independent inspection in Arlit (Niger), where there are uranium mines operated by the French nuclear industry (Cogéma-Areva). Many irregularities were pointed out in the final report, although the inspection was disturbed by the confiscation of the equipment and various obstructions on the part of the Niger authorities and Cogéma. [10]
According to the Austrian Ecological Institute [11], the exploitation of uranium mines and the processing of spent fuel are the stages of the nuclear fuel cycle that contribute most to the radiation doses due to nuclear energy [ 12] (taking into account normal operation and “small” incidents, ie excluding nuclear tests and serious accidents such as the Chernobyl disaster).