URANIUM

A.1. What is uranium?
A.2. What is radioactivity?
A.3. How far can atomic radiation penetrate?
A.4. Is radioactivity dangerous?
A.5. How do radioactive elements produce other radioactive elements?

Part B : B. URANIUM AND ITS USES

B.1. Where is uranium found?
B.2. How did Australia get into the uranium business?
B.3. How is uranium used in atomic bombs?
B.4. How is uranium used in nuclear reactors to produce electricity?
B.5. Are there other uses for nuclear reactors?
B.6. Are the peaceful and military uses of uranium incompatible?
B.7. Has Australia ever produced plutonium for use in bombs?
B.8. Does Australia still sell uranium and plutonium for bombs?
B.9. Does Australian uranium still find its way into nuclear bombs?
B.10. Are there any other uses for uranium?

Part C : C. URANIUM AND NUCLEAR FISSION

C.1. What is nuclear fission?
C.2. What are fission products?
C.3. What is strontium-90? cesium-137?
C.4. What is "nuclear weapons fallout"?
C.5. What is "high level radioactive waste"?
C.6. How are plutonium and the other transuranic elements produced?
C.7. What is plutonium used for?

Part D : D. URANIUM AND PUBLIC POLICY

D.1. Is nuclear-generated electricity inevitable? Just a matter of time?
D.2. Are the alternatives to nuclear power feasible?
D.3. Is uranium and nuclear power accepted in Australia? In the World?
D.4. To what extent has Australia invested in uranium and nuclear power?
D.5. To what extent has Australia intervened in the uranium market?
D.6. What is Australia's present status in the international uranium market?
D.7. Why is uranium mining expanding in Australia?

Part E : E. THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF URANIUM MINING

E.1. What are the health hazards of uranium mining?
E.2. How long have we known that lung cancer is caused by uranium mining?
E.3. How did we learn that radioactivity causes lung cancer?
E.3a. Which radioactive materials cause lung cancer among miners?
E.4. Have uranium miners in North America suffered from excess lung cancer?
E.5. Are there higher rates of lung cancer among uranium miners today?
E.6. Are the current levels of radiation exposure for miners considered safe?
E.7. Can the health dangers be alleviated by using more miners for shorter times?

Part F : F. URANIUM TAILINGS

F.1. What are uranium tailings?
F.2. What is thorium-230?
F.3. What is radium-226?
F.4. What is radon-222?
F.5. What are the radon progeny?
F.6. What is polonium?

Part G : G. URANIUM AND THE ENVIRONMENT

G.1. What are the greatest environmental risks from a uranium mine?
G.2. Does uranium mining cause water pollution?
G.3. What are the dangers of the tailings to humans, wildlife and the environment?
G.4. Is there a way to avoid this kind of radioactive contamination?
G.5. How long will the tailings be radioactive?
G.6. How long will it take to get rid of the hazard of uranium tailings?
G.7. Can modern science eliminate atomic radiation from radioactive tailings?

Part H : H. REGULATING TAILINGS MANAGEMENT

H.1. Who is responsible for regulating tailings management in Australia?
H.2. What do the regulations require?
H.3. Are the regulations effective?
H.4. Are the regulators independent of the industry?

Part J : J. THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF ATOMIC RADIATION

J.1. Can the human body protect itself from radioactive materials?
J.2. How does atomic radiation cause cancer?
J.3. How does atomic radiation cause genetic defects in children?
J.3a. How do we know that atomic radiation causes genetic damage?
J.4. How else can atomic radiation damage unborn children?
J.5. Is there a cure for radiation victims?
J.6. Can radioactivity be detected by human senses?
J.7. Are medical and dental x-rays free of risk?

Part K : K. THE REGULATION OF RADIATION EXPOSURES

K.1. What is an "acceptable" level of exposure to atomic radiation?
K.2. Who is responsible for regulating radiation exposure in Canada?
K.3. What is the basis for setting radiation standards?
K.4. What is "background radiation"?
K.5. Is background radiation increasing?
K.6. Is radon in homes a problem? how does it get there?
K.7. Are Australian exposure standards being made more stringent?