RADON
Radon is ubiquitous
in the environment
and comparable in most
of the places on earth,
but in some localities its
concentration varies by large
amounts. This abnormally high
amount is usually attributed to
anthropogenic activities such as
mining. Even with relatively efficient
mining operations, high concentrations
of radon are released into the air and
water leaving a legacy of environmental
contamination, which is a health threat
to the community nearby. Because radon
is a daughter of Uranium (238U), higher
concentrations are usually found in
the vicinity of uranium ore bodies.
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Photo: A man enters one of the tunnels in the Shinkolobwe Cobalt mine. Photo AP