Radiation watchdog: More uranium than reported in Raahe gold mine water
Measurements of slush water at the Raahe gold mine showed uranium levels of 150 -200 micrograms per litre, compared to the 130 micrograms per litre reported one month ago in May. The Finnish Radiation Safety Authority STUK has stressed that in spite of the high uranium levels, there are no health risks.
Increased uranium levels at the Raahe gold mine first came to light in May, when a waste license granted by regional administration officials in northern Finland indicated on average 130 micrograms per litre of uranium in the waste water.
Tests performed later by the Finnish Radiation Safety Authority STUK at the same mine showed elevated uranium levels compared to results reported earlier. The STUK test results indicate that the slush water at the mine contained 150 – 200 micrograms of uranium per litre.
STUK recommends uranium levels of no more than 100 micrograms per litre for water, but no recommendations have been set for waste water. The safety regulator however stressed that these levels of uranium do not present any health risks.
The supervisory body will continue to measure the levels of radioactive substances in the waste water of other mines. If altogether they exceed a certain limit, STUK may lay set out recommendations for the mining operations.
Latest in: News
Finnish income gap lower than European average
Income differences in Finland are below the average in Europe, according to Statistics Finland. The gap between richest and poorest is largest in Latvia and Bulgaria and smallest in Norway and Iceland.
Two tumble from Töölö balcony
One man died and another was seriously injured on Wednesday morning when they fell from a fifth-floor balcony in the Töölö district of Helsinki.
Evira: Don’t use datura-laced SOK veggies
The Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira has warned consumers not to use a frozen vegetable product sold by the SOK group that was found to be laced with seeds from the highly toxic datura plant.
Itella chops 180 management jobs
The state mail delivery and logistics company launched retrenchment talks in mid-April with the aim of cutting 350 jobs.
Researcher: Bullying should be nipped in the bud
Research shows that small children don’t have an inherent tendency to bully their peers, but learn the practice from others.
Met man: Monster tornado also possible in Finland
A meteorologist and storm chaser says that the kind of tornado that recently killed dozens of people in Oklahoma in the USA, is also possible in Finland. Finland suffered extensive destruction in a series of massive twisters that struck in 1932.
Workers' tax badge rule sees flood of registrations
In an effort to combat illegal labour practices, Finland’s tax authorities introduced a requirement for workers in the construction industry to register by way of individual tax numbers to be displayed on a badge. Authorities say that thousands of new workers are emerging as a result, with tax badges being assigned to carpenters, security guards and even cooks on the same construction site.
Lottery lands toilet tissue company in the can
Finland’s Consumer Ombudsman has taken the manufacturer of the well-known Lotus brand of toilet tissue to court for aggressive marketing. The company has offered consumers who buy its toilet paper a chance to win a 100,000-euro jackpot prize. However the chances of actually winning are paper-thin: just one in 2.4 billion.
Tax badges may be introduced for cleaners, too
This spring, tax badges became obligatory for builders -- and cleaning staff could be next.
Talvivaara mine stains river orange
The mine has been involved in a string of environmental mishaps -- and PR fiascos -- for more than six months.
