Antinuclear

Uranium mining’s damage to the Australian environment

The impact of nuclear testing on the Australian environment | Blog About All 16 Feb 2010 “.……..In the case of Rum Jungle, the pollution of the surrounding environment was quite severe with run off from the tailing damns causing extensive damage in the East Finniss river for several kilometres away from the sight of the mine.

Damage caused by the mine included; damage of native vegetation, damage to stream beds, loss of fishes from large stretches of the river due to an increase in the oxide, copper and sulphate levels of the river caused by run off from tailings at the site of the mine, death of invertebrates and a reduction in the photo synthesis of aquatic plant species due to the visibility of the water being reduced. In 1963 the situation was so bad that it was reported that the run off from the Rum Jungle site had affected more than 20 miles of the East Finniss and Finniss Rivers, which in turn made the water unsuitable for stock or human usage and also destroyed plant life along the banks of the rivers, due to high acidity level content in the water .

The situation at the other uranium mines tended to be the same, with numerous reports of destruction and damage to the environment from areas near uranium mines………..
As well as contamination of waterways, which is one of the main environmental damages caused by the mining process, other dangers to the environment include the contamination of land with radon, a bi product of the uranium mining process which can have a life of anything up to 250,000 years. As well as this there is also the risk of environmental impact from ionized radiation and gamma rays.

At Rum Jungle for miles down stream a radioactive anomaly can be found, where as well as damage caused to the waterways by sediments from the mine, there is also above average levels of back ground radiation which has a severe impact on the water supply of native wildlife since that the sections that are affected are unsuitable for drinking………..
In conclusion, the nuclear tests Britain undertook are still affecting the Australian impact and have played a role in dramatically shaping the Australian desert at places such as Maralinga. Uranium mining still continues today at such places as Ranger and perhaps the most controversial site been Jabiluka mine which is allowed to operate in Kakadu National Park, which has World Heritage status.

The impact of nuclear testing on the Australian environment | Blog About All

February 16, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Northern Territory, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, radioactive, uranium