Exploring the Risks of Uranium: The Associated Health and Socio-Economic Risks of Uranium Development
Title
Exploring the Risks of Uranium: The Associated Health and Socio-Economic Risks of Uranium Development
Author
Wright, Adam
Host Organization
Environment Haliburton
Host contacts: Barton, Joan; Ross, Heather
Host contacts: Barton, Joan; Ross, Heather
Supervising Faculty
Bocking, Stephen
Department: Environmental and Resource Science/Studies
Department: Environmental and Resource Science/Studies
Reference Number
TP-597
Date
2009
Location of Document
U-Links Office and online
Area
Haliburton County
Subject
Exploring impacts of uranium mining
Description
Provides an overview of the effects associated with the multiple stages of uranium development, specifically the social impacts and health effects on area residents and mine workers.
Abstract
There can be no doubt that uranium development has and continues to be a prevalent issue in the Canadian landscape. Throughout the course of this research project, the complex nature of uranium development has become a recurrent theme. The issues regarding uranium development are not strictly confined to environmental issues but rather, there are a myriad of concerns including; the social impacts of uranium development, short term and long term health effects on residents of the community, acute and chronic health effects of the workers in the uranium mines and power plants, health effects regarding naturally occurring uranium, and the interplay of power structures that govern and administer the uranium development process.
Resulting from Haliburton’s experiences in uranium development, they can be historically viewed as one of several centres of uranium development in Canada. Development began in the 1956 and lasted until 1964, producing 500 000kg of uranium oxide which had an approximate value of $105 000 000. It should be noted that the Haliburton region is once again being considered for uranium development due to the recent surge in uranium prices.
Although there are numerous health risks, the government of Canada still promotes uranium development as sustainable. In addition, a large portion of uranium development occurs on or near indigenous lands causing more issues such as land claims and the ability for a community to oppose development. A possible solution for many of these problems is the precautionary principle (PP) which aims to shift the burden of proof from those who are worried about the potential negative effects to those who advocate for scientific certainty. The hope is that through the implementation of the PP, community empowerment will abound and thus sustainable development can be achieved.
Resulting from Haliburton’s experiences in uranium development, they can be historically viewed as one of several centres of uranium development in Canada. Development began in the 1956 and lasted until 1964, producing 500 000kg of uranium oxide which had an approximate value of $105 000 000. It should be noted that the Haliburton region is once again being considered for uranium development due to the recent surge in uranium prices.
Although there are numerous health risks, the government of Canada still promotes uranium development as sustainable. In addition, a large portion of uranium development occurs on or near indigenous lands causing more issues such as land claims and the ability for a community to oppose development. A possible solution for many of these problems is the precautionary principle (PP) which aims to shift the burden of proof from those who are worried about the potential negative effects to those who advocate for scientific certainty. The hope is that through the implementation of the PP, community empowerment will abound and thus sustainable development can be achieved.
Publisher
Trent University
Files
Collection
Reference
Wright, Adam, Exploring the Risks of Uranium: The Associated Health and Socio-Economic Risks of Uranium Development, Trent University, 2009