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Nuclear power and uranium mining: current global perspectives and emerging public health risks

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Abstract

Despite the Fukushima power plant accident (2011), development of next-generation nuclear reactors and rapid expansion of uranium mining in low-income countries are likely to improve prospects for the nuclear industry. Trends in the nuclear energy industry have given rise to new public health challenges. Driven by high power demands, electricity production from nuclear plants has continually risen. Africa and Asia have emerged as major sources of uranium due in part to the poorly enforced labor laws resulting in low operating costs, plus less stringent regulatory frameworks. There is ample evidence of the industry transgressing environmental regulations as well as unethical practices that pose serious threats to public health. Anticipated safety issues associated with new reactors need to be addressed before promoting them as a viable alternative. This article provides recommendations for multilateral institutional collaboration on public health surveillance plus capacity building for young researchers.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Health Research (NLCAHR) for supporting (Research Grant 2012) the project. I also thank Research Assistants, Dr. Abhishek Sharma and Dr. Abhinav Sharma for helping in the literature search.

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  1. Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, # 2851, St John’s, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada

    Atanu Sarkar

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Sarkar, A. Nuclear power and uranium mining: current global perspectives and emerging public health risks. J Public Health Pol 40, 383–392 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-019-00177-2

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