Doug Brugge ^1*, Jamie L. deLemos ², Cat Bui ³

¹ Tufts University School of Medicine
² Tufts University School of Engineering
³ Massachusetts School of Pharmacy

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dbrugge{at}aol.com.

	Abstract

The Three Mile Island nuclear release exemplifies why there is public and policy interest in the high-technology, highly visible end of the nuclear cycle. The environmental and health consequences of the early steps in the cycle—mining, milling, and processing of uranium ore— may be less appreciated.

We examined 2 large unintended acute releases of uranium—at Kerr McGee’s Sequoyah Fuels Corporation in Oklahoma and United Nuclear Corporation’s Church Rock uranium mill in New Mexico, which are incidents with comparable magnitude to the Three Mile Island release.

We urge exploration of whether there is limited national interest and concern for primarily rural, low-income, and American Indian communities affected. More attention should be given to the early stages of the nuclear cycle and their impacts on health and the environment.

Key Words: Environment, History, Occupational Health, Native Americans, Rural Health, Socioeconomic Factors