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Uranium radiation
Uranium is a metal that releases harmful radiation (see page 342). Radiation
causes cancer, skin diseases, and other serious health problems. People are
exposed to uranium through mining it, processing it, or living near uranium
mines or waste dumps.
Uranium is used to make 2 things: nuclear weapons and nuclear energy.
Both are costly, dangerous, and not needed. No country can trust its leaders
or military with nuclear weapons built to kill huge numbers of people.
What we need is peace.
Nuclear energy is also dangerous, and accidents in nuclear power plants
can kill thousands of people. The waste from nuclear energy remains very
harmful for thousands of years and cannot be disposed of safely. Electricity
can be made in safer ways (see Chapter 23).
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012