Using Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA) to Assess (Theoretical) Cancer Deaths Averted Compared to the (Real) Cost of Environmental Remediation.

Miller, M. L. ; Hylko, J. M.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Remedial action;    Deaths;    Neoplasms;    Costs;    Risk assessment;   

RP-ID  :  DE2004828217

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

Decades of processing uranium ore for use in the governments nuclear weapons and energy programs resulted in the accumulation of contaminated mill tailings, a sand-like by-product of ore processing, at 24 sites located primarily in the Western United States. The uranium mill tailings were allowed to accumulate, often in unstabilized and unprotected conditions. About 5,314 vicinity properties identified to date used these tailings for constructing foundations and walls of private and public buildings, and under streets and utility corridors. In 1978, on the basis of existing health studies at the time, legislation was proposed that would authorize remedial action at these inactive sites. The cost of the program to the Federal Government was expected to be $180 million. With the completion of this project, we have the opportunity to compare theoretical benefits (i.e., risk averted) to actual costs of remediation. Approximately 1300 theoretical cancer deaths were estimated to have been prevented in the next 100 years by the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project at a cost of $1.45 billion to the Federal Government.