03.10.2009
Round Table on Risk Assessment of Uranium Tailings
On 3 November 2009 a round table on uranium tailings in Central Asia was held at the ISTC Kyrgyz branch office. Representatives of the Government, Kyrgyz research institutes, United Nation Development Program and ISTC met to discuss this serious problem afflicting Central Asian countries. Participants discussed uranium tailings’ impact on public health and safety in the region, trans-border pollution and other related risks.
Tailings are radioactive toxic waste, formed as a result of uranium enrichment. Tailings have negative impacts on health, agriculture and ecology in the affected areas. After 1991 many uranium mines were closed and the condition of the uranium mining facilities has worsened .