Uranium Sandstorms

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The soil quality of many regions of South Africa is loose and dry which is easily blown large distances by strong winds. High-altitude storms can often cause intense downdrafts which increase the amount of soil particulate matter that is picked up by the wind into the atmosphere. These intense winds laden with particulate matter then travel horizontally: a sandstorm.
        Although certain areas of South Africa experience sandstorms more frequently than the city of Johannesburg, the presence of uranium tailing impoundments in the city lead to unique health concerns for the local population. The impoundments for the uranium tailings from gold reef mining operations in the region in and around Johannesburg resemble large, yellow-tinged artificial hills in the relatively flat landscape of Gauteng province. The soil of these impoundment hills is dry and sandy, and is easily eroded away by water and wind. Thus, if there are downdrafts in the region - or if strong wings traverse the city area - the soil of these uranium impoundments is easily disturbed with the potential to cause uranium particle sandstorms.
        Aside from the radiation-poisoning risks that uranium itself poses for the local population, the particulate matter poses risk of inhalation. Should particulate matter be small enough to be called “dust,” then inhalation would lead to impairment of respiratory functions in the human body. In that case, then, the airborne dispersal of uranium particulate matter in the city of Johannesburg poses two serious risks in the form of sandstorms which cause radiation-poisoning, and dust storms which cause physical respiratory harm.

Image source: JHB Sandstorm 1.JPG (1024×654). n.d. Image. Accessed March 6, 2022. https://www.enca.com/sites/default/files/JHB%20sandstorm%201.JPG.