Uranium mining debate

The uranium mining debate covers the political and environmental controversies of uranium mining for use in either nuclear power or nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan has the highest production of uranium even though Namibia has the world's longest operating open pit uranium mine. Australia, which possesses the largest single uranium deposit, has seen uranium grow into a major political issue due to health risk and environmental damage concerns. They now have four operational uranium mines. Uranium mining is controversial because it produces hazardous gas and impacts miners if proper ventilation is not installed. Exposure from either mining or processing can lead to cancer and can contaminate ground or surface water.

Uranium has had a disproportionately negative effect on native peoples especially the Navajo. Many native lands are on top of uranium-rich soils, leading them to be overrepresented in mining and, in some cases, poisoning the land. A gendered impact on the Laguna Pueblo community was observed since the men were employed by the mines and the economy began to shift from agricultural to wage-earning.