Uranium a concern for Australia’s dust storms

Australia ‘uranium’ dust concernsBy Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney 28 September 2009

Environmentalists have raised concerns that another giant dust storm blowing its way across eastern Australia may contain radioactive particles.

It is argued that sediment whipped up from Australia’s centre may be laced with material from a uranium mine.

Scientists have played down concerns, saying there is little to worry about.

Last Wednesday Sydney and Brisbane bore witness to their biggest dust storm in 70 years. Both were shrouded in red dust blown in from the desert outback.

The massive clouds of dust that choked heavily populated parts of Australia have caused problems for people with asthma, as well as those with heart and lung conditions.

But some environmental campaigners believe that the dry, metallic-tasting sediment could threaten the health of millions of other Australians.

David Bradbury, a renowned filmmaker and activist, claims the haze that engulfed some of the country’s biggest cities in the past week contains radioactive grains – or tailings – carried on gale force winds from a mine in the South Australian desert.

“Given the dust storms… which [the] news said originated from Woomera, and which is right next door to the Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs, these [storms] could blow those tailings across the face of Australia,” Mr Bradbury asserted.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Australia ‘uranium’ dust concerns

Tags: antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium