MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF LOW ACTIVITY WASTES FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD MINING INDUSTRY

摘要

Uranium mineralization is associated with the gold deposits in South Africa that have been mined for more than a century. Investigations of the radiological impacts on the environment reveal that the various radioactive wastes -mostly of low activity - associated with gold and by-product uranium production do not warrant the application of anything more than basic control measures. Non-radiological pollution of the water environment is a growing problem, however, aggravated by the closure and flooding of mines. Control measures to address this problem should, as a spin-off, limit the release of radionuclides, thus helping to control future radiological pollution.