An epidemiological study of certain cancer types among Rössing Uranium Limited workers

The Rössing Uranium Limited mine in Namibia has operated since 1976. It is an open-cast mine where uranium-bearing rock is blasted, crushed and processed chemically to produce uranium concentrate for export. Workers at the Rössing mine are exposed to radiation directly from radioactive materials in the rock, but may also breathe in radioactive dust and radon gas which can escape from the rock. Workers may also have inhaled other, non-radioactive, substances, such as acid mist. The University of Manchester was appointed by Rio Tinto (until recently, the major shareholder in the Rössing mine) to conduct an independent study to investigate if working at the Rössing mine is linked with a higher risk of developing cancer.