2007/08/01 by Doug Brugge, Jamie L. deLemos, Cat N. Bui · 47 citations
Social Sciences · Health Professions · Environmental Science · Engineering · Medicine · #Risk Perception and Management #Radioactivity and Radon Measurements #Radioactive contamination and transfer #Corporation #Uranium #Mile #Mill #Public health #Nuclear fuel cycle #Radioactive waste #Environmental protection #Environmental health #Waste management #Engineering #Political science #Geography #Archaeology #Law #Medicine
paper · open access · doi:10.2105/ajph.2006.103044
published in American Journal of Public Health 97(9), 1595-1600 (American Public Health Association)
openalex publication_date 2007/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The Three Mile Island nuclear release exemplifies why there is public and policy interest in the high-technology, highly visible end of the nuclear cycle. The environmental and health consequences of the early steps in the cycle--mining, milling, and processing of uranium ore--may be less appreciated. We examined 2 large unintended acute releases of uranium--at Kerr McGee's Sequoyah Fuels Corporation in Oklahoma and United Nuclear Corporation's Church Rock uranium mill in New Mexico, which were incidents with comparable magnitude to the Three Mile Island release. We urge exploration of whether there is limited national interest and concern for the primarily rural, low-income, and American Indian communities affected by these releases. More attention should be given to the early stages of the nuclear cycle and their impacts on health and the environment.