- Uranium is present soil, rocks and water, it is then distributed throughout the environment by wind, rain and geologic processes
- Rocks can then break down to form soil, and soil can be washed by water and blown by wind, moving uranium into streams and lakes, and ultimately settling out and reforming as rock
- Uranium can also be removed and concentrated by people through mining and refining
- All uranium isotopes are radioactive, the three natural uranium isotopes found in the environment are U-234, U-235, and U-238,
- The dominant isotope, U-238, forms a long series of decay products that includes the key radionuclides radium-226, and radon-222
- The decay process continues until a stable, non-radioactive decay product is formed
- This release of radiation during the decay process raises health concerns
- Intakes of uranium exceeding EPA standards can lead to increased cancer risk, liver damage, or both
- From 1946 through 1993, thirteen countries used ocean disposal or ocean dumping as a method to dispose of nuclear/radioactive waste
- This extremely hazardous waste was just dumped in the Atlantic Ocean, all the countries had to do was pay a fee
- The waste materials included both liquids and solids housed in various containers, as well as reactor vessels, with and without spent or damaged nuclear fuel
- Since 1993, ocean disposal has been banned by international treaties
- Countries realized the effects that this radioactive material had on the environment as well as possibly affecting the health of humans