Abandoned and active radioactive mining and storage facilities in proximity to Western Native American Lands pose environmental and extreme health risks to Native Americans. In the past governmental agencies have failed to educate Native American people of the dangers of radioactive waste, and have been neglectant in the clean up of many sites. In certain communities such as, Paguate and the Navajo Nation, there is a high prevalence of cancer and various respiratory diseases in residents living near radioactive storage sites. Thus, the U.S government should impose stricter monitoring systems for radioactive mining or storage sites.
The government is responsible for monitoring radioactive storage and mining facilities on Native American tribal …show more content…
Brennamam (2012) stated that the Bureau of Labor (BOL) did not effectively manage the cleanup of numerous radioactive mines, resulting in environmental contamination on Native American lands. The BOL has a pattern of ignoring health risks of the uranium mines and refuseto provide support, such as health care and payment options to affected Native American families (Brennamam 2012). For example the Jack Pile, was the largest open pit uranium mine in the United States and was located 2000 feet from the Native American village Paguate (Furlow, 2014). Residents of this village were exposed to high levels of radiation and toxic chemicals from the remaining radioactive waste piles (Furlow, 2014). Shockingly, Furlow (2014) states that Native American children played in the waste piles, Paguate residents drank contaminated water, and livestock grazed on toxic waste. Diseases such as kidney disease, autoimmune disease, various cancers, and hypertension disease were common ailments of village residents probably caused by exposure to radioactive waste (Furlow, 2014). Because the U.S federal government in indirectly responsible for the environmental contamination on Native American lands, the U.S government needs to provide more support to Native American families. Support could include better education about risks of radiation, health care for affected families, increased professional medical personnel in Native American Villages and biomonitoring to ensure safe levels of
The government is responsible for monitoring radioactive storage and mining facilities on Native American tribal …show more content…
Brennamam (2012) stated that the Bureau of Labor (BOL) did not effectively manage the cleanup of numerous radioactive mines, resulting in environmental contamination on Native American lands. The BOL has a pattern of ignoring health risks of the uranium mines and refuseto provide support, such as health care and payment options to affected Native American families (Brennamam 2012). For example the Jack Pile, was the largest open pit uranium mine in the United States and was located 2000 feet from the Native American village Paguate (Furlow, 2014). Residents of this village were exposed to high levels of radiation and toxic chemicals from the remaining radioactive waste piles (Furlow, 2014). Shockingly, Furlow (2014) states that Native American children played in the waste piles, Paguate residents drank contaminated water, and livestock grazed on toxic waste. Diseases such as kidney disease, autoimmune disease, various cancers, and hypertension disease were common ailments of village residents probably caused by exposure to radioactive waste (Furlow, 2014). Because the U.S federal government in indirectly responsible for the environmental contamination on Native American lands, the U.S government needs to provide more support to Native American families. Support could include better education about risks of radiation, health care for affected families, increased professional medical personnel in Native American Villages and biomonitoring to ensure safe levels of