URANIUM UPCOMING THREAT TO ENVIRONMENT IN TANZANIA.

Atomic Energy is the energy released by a nuclear reaction. It is originated in 1903 when Ernest Rutherford began to speak of possibility of atomic energy. The term was popularized by H.G Wells in phrase “splitting the atom” devised at a time prior to the discovery of nucleus. Radioactiave substances include Uranium which is found in Tanzania in Bahi District Dodoma, Namtumbo District Ruvuma, Manyoni District Singida, and Babati district Manyara.

What is Uranium? Simply Uranium can be explained as a hard, dense, malleable, ductile, silver white radioactive. Uranium metal has very high density. When finely divided it can react with cold water, In air it is coated by Uranium oxide, tarnishing rapidly. It is attacked by steam and acids. Uranium can form solids solution and inter metallic compounds with way of the metals

In Tanzania there is a law that governs Radioactive metals, and this is Atomic Energy Act, No 7 of 2003 which repealed and replaced the Protection from Radiation Act, 1983 which is Chapter 188 of Revised Edition 2002 of the Laws of Tanzania. The Atomic Energy Act, 2003 establishes the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission which seeks to regulate the safety and peaceful use of atomic energy, promote and expand the contribution of atomic energy and nuclear technology to healt and prosperity throughout United Republic of Tanzania.

Uranium has posed environmental problems in Air contamination for example in Bulgaria a shut down uranium mining is located immediately neighboring the village of Eleshnitza. It causes high radon concentration in free air. It is anticipated that 0.1 to 1 lung cancer incidences annually are caused by the mine in the 2600 residents of the village. IF at all Uranium extraction to is to commence at Bahi District and Manyoni is going to affect a population of Dodoma municipality and Singida because the distance is only 50km from Dodoma town to Chali where the proposed plant is going to be established.

Radon and dust blown by the mine’s ventilation contaminates local food grown in the area. In Bahi people cultivate rice that is exported to various regions for consumption thus it posses another threat to the population of Tanzania.

Large amount of ground water is at risk to be polluted, at Kinangali ward there is very big dam that is being used by 25 villages and very interesting when this dam dries is a source of salt that is being exported to neighboring countries of Rwanda, Burundi.

By Pasience Mlowe