Evaluation of environmental impacts arising from uranium extraction in Lagoa Real Bahia

Since the beginnings of the industrial era, there has been an increasing use of fossil fuels, causing a rising of about 30% in the level of carbon dioxide concentrations and, consequently, elevating the global temperature. In the present days, we witness a huge worldwide concern about the generation of energy without emitting polluting gases responsible for the global warming, the so called clean energy. In this way, nuclear energy has reemerged as an important efficient means for generating domestic and industrial energy without producing the toxic greenhouse effect gases. Brazil is one of the current highest economic developing countries, with various internal sectors demanding more and more new technologies and energy consumption. Although traditionally Brazil has lain mainly on hydric resources, nuclear energy appears as real option in the current scenario. In the present work we analyse uranium extraction and processing in the Brazilian Region of Lagoa Real Bahia. In the recent literature, there has appeared some localized works, analyzing environmental impacts arising from the uranium extraction in that region. Based on data collection and analysis of soil, water and teeth, these works represent a first effort in the environmental impacts issue. Building upon published technical results we aim at a global understanding of the problem. Considering such different data sets, we look for global answers relating general aspects of the uranium extraction in the region. We present a comparative study, stressing connections and pointing ou different aspects of the common environmental issue. (author)