Naturally Occurring Radiation: Uranium

By: Ali Mir

Uranium is EVERYWHERE
Uranium is usually in rocks and when soil or water breaks it down, it is taken up by plants, people, or animals. Uranium is widely distributed across the Earth (World Nuclear). Large amounts of Uranium or deposits can be found in countries like Algeria, Argentina, Australia and Belgium.

Uranium has different decay chains/series

Since Uranium has three different isotopes, it undergoes different types of decay cycles. Uranium 238 decays to Thorium 234 through an alpha decay cycle. Uranium 235 decays to Thorium 231 through an alpha decay cycle.

Is Uranium harmful?
An excess of uranium in the human body can be very harmful. It can lead to an increased cancer risk and liver damage (EPA).

How can we protect ourselves?

If you are living in an area which has an excess of Uranium radiation, you MUST move away. It is possible to wear protective gear to stop some radiation. However, this method is very impractical. You could inject yourself with active chemicals that reduce the harm produced by radiation, but these chemicals can have their own side affects.

What is Uranium used for?

Uranium metal is used in many military appliances and weapons. Enriched uranium is used by many nuclearpropelled ships, submarines, and nuclear weapons. The most common use of uranium in the public sector is to fuel commercial nuclear power plants.

Radiation Used by Humans and Technology: Uranium in nuclear power plants

What fields use Uranium in power plants?

Uranium is usually used in the civilian sector in order to power nuclear power plants.

Advantages and disadvantages of using Uranium

Uranium is VERY abundant. Is cheap to extract Todays technology can extend its *Uraniums+ use 60-fold if demands require it (New Mexico, Dana) Nuclear power plants are expensive to build. Nuclear waste is highly-radioactive and can be hazardous. (New Mexico, Dana) Nuclear companies take full responsibility of nuclear waste. Uranium is used in almost all nuclear power plants and thus is very common.

Uranium and its wastes

The wastes produced by a nuclear power plant are highly radioactive. Fortunately, more than 97% *of the waste+ is reprocessed and only 3% is disposed of.

Other important information on Uranium

Many countries are starting to rely on nuclear power plants that use Uranium. The energy from these power plants has minimal pollution and requires minimal energy expenditure.

Bibliography
"Energy for the World Why Uranium?." World Nuclear Association. World Nuclear Association, Dec. 2012. Web. 10 June 2013. S, Dana. "New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources." New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2013. "US Environmental Protection Agency." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 10 June 2013. "Where Can Uranium Be Found?" Texas Groundwater Protection Committee. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2013.

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