PR:Thousand kilogrammes of uranium in soluble form on the terrain - A massive risk to health and the environment

Press Release Nov-27-2012 / Stop Talvivaara http://www.stoptalvivaara.org/fi/release27112012.html

Thousand kilogrammes of uranium in soluble form on the terrain

A massive risk to health and the environment
Even the visible state of the land around the mine reveals the extent of the disaster at Talvivaara. At least 100 hectares (approx 250 acres) of marshland, streams, lakes and ponds have been polluted by the discharges of waste waters containing uranium and heavy metals. Through heavy application of lime up to a thousand kilogrammes of liquid uranium has accumulated as sediment in the grounds and vegetation of the area.

Video: Activists and journalists outside the mining area, where heavy applications of lime have been used to absorb heavy metals from the discharge of the leak.
 * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik0XZ941JAo&feature=plcp

Considering the extent of environmental damage it is incomprehensible and extremely disturbing that, according to information available to the public,
 * 1) Talvivaara and the local ELY Centre seem intent to leave approx one thousand kilogrammes of uranium and up to 10 tonnes of heavy metals and aluminium in the terrain.
 * 2) Talvivaara has been commissioned to evaluate the pollution.

The operations of the ELY Centre (Centre for Economic Development, Transport and The Environment) and Talvivaara have been a series of fatal mistakes which are continuing in the after-care of the catastrophe. Neither operator has the capacity to assess chemical pollution. It is assumed that, because of their commercial interests, both parties once again act in ways that endanger the environment and the health of their employees.

The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) should examine the waste, which is very likely to constitute a radiation danger and which, according to their own measurement, contains approx one ton of uranium. The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Authority (TUKES), again, is responsible for monitoring the effects of breathing harmful dust to occupational health.

The uranium and the heavy metals such as nickel are about to enter the Vuoksi water system, where they could contaminate 1,000 million cubic metres of water over the level of environmental danger.

How is it possible that, two weeks after the leak, Talvivaara and the local ELY Centre are still trying to decide whether they should do something about it, i.e. cleanse the uranium and heavy metals from the marshland. And this at the same time as the discharge of waste substances continue to run into the waterways?

http://www.stoptalvivaara.org People's Movement for the Lakes and Rivers

Contact for media:
 * Virpi Virolainen, +358 40 8317733, mediadesk@stoptalvivaara.org

Earlier media releases:
 * http://media.nuclear-heritage.net

Background information in English:
 * http://www.nuclear-heritage.net/index.php/Talvivaara_mine:_environmental_disaster_in_Finland

-- Nuclear Heritage Network Ortsteil Mannsdorf Am Bärental 6 D-04720 Döbeln GERMANY

website: http://nuclear-heritage.net email: [mailto:contactATnuclear-heritage.net contact AT nuclear-heritage.net]

phone: +49 3431 5894177

This media release has been provided by the "Nuclear Heritage Network". It is an international network of anti-nuclear activists. This informal alliance supports the worldwide anti-nuclear work. The Nuclear Heritage Network is no label, has no standard opinion and no representatives. All activists of the network speak for themselves or for the groups they represent.