NATAMST 90 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, Navajo Nation, Navajo

• School: Berkeley
• Department: Native American Studies
• Course: NATAMST 90
• Professor: Diane Pearson

Document Summary

The history of uranium mining and the navajo people . - doug brugge, phd, ms, and rob goble, phd. 1948 -- us gov. promises to purchase all uranium mined in u. s. Uranium deposits discovered in navajo nation (southwest states) Mines on reservation and around it were constructed. Navajo were not aware of danger of radiation, and were not educated or protected at mine sites. Radon isotopes radiation lung cancer. Lack of ventilation and high working levels (concentration) of radiation = main issues with mines. 1960s = cases of lung cancer reported by navajo. Reform came slowly, but was not always perfectly followed, especially where natives were employed. Standard of 0. 3 working levels were established in 1969. Navajo leaders continued to bring up issues of compensation and laws to. 500-600 navajo miners who worked between 1950-1990 died of lung cancer. Reca did not come until decades after damage was done.