Radioactive dust no threat to visitors

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Radioactive dust no threat to visitors
June 10, 2000

It has been claimed that dust on the Gunlom Falls Road and from  
other old uranium mine sites in Kakadu National Park poses little  
radiation risk to the public.   

Earlier this week, it was revealed tailings from the old Rockhole  
mine have been found in dust beside the road, and have leached 
into  the South Alligator River. 

Australia's Nuclear Safety Agency spokesperson Peter Burns says 
 several other sites have been identified with low levels of  radiation. 

He says the contaminated areas do not pose a health risk to park 
users, but workers cleaning up the sites should take reasonable  
precautions, such as using face masks or working in enclosed  
cabins. 

"The total area that's contaminated and the sort of levels are not  a 
danger to the public in terms of the sort of doses that a casual  
visitor to the area would receive," he said. 

"It's just something you wouldn't like to leave for the long-term. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com
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