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<br />Durango, Grand Junction, Rifle, Gunnison, Naturita, Slick Rock, and <br />...... Maybell all have inactive uranium tailings piles. In the 1950's and <br />-J 1960's uranium tailings were widely used for construction presenting <br />~~ possible health problems. Where old tailing piles exist, expecially where <br />CJ tailings have been used in construction or where old sites have been <br />converted to other uses, the problem is now one of minimizing public <br />exposure to low-level radiation. <br /> <br />Tailings from turn-of-the-century radium processing facilities in Denver <br />also pose problems, especially since many of the early processing sites <br />have been converted to other uses without any clean-up of the radioactive <br />residue. The Department will attempt to facilitate the clean-up of these <br />sites under "Superfund". <br /> <br />There is some concern over the presence of radioactive elements in the <br />State's rivers and streams that feed into public water systems. This <br />presence sometimes exceeds existing and recommended drinking water <br />standards. The source of this radiation can be either natural or induced <br />by uranium mining and milling activities. Water quality standards for <br />radioactivity have been promulgated for the Arkansas and South Platte <br />river basins. <br /> <br />Finally, the presence of the Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Power Plant at <br />Platteville just north of the Denver metropolitan area and the Rocky Flats <br />Nuclear Weapons Plant on the northwest fringe of the Denver metropolitan <br />area require constant vigilance by both the plants' operators and by state <br />and federal regulatory agencies to minimize releases of radioactive <br />materials into the environment. Effective and up-to-date emergency <br />response plans must be maintained for both facilities to protect the <br />public from exposure to radiation should a major release occut. <br /> <br />5. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROTECTION <br /> <br />Despite the research time and money invested in environmental pollution <br />control during the past decade, environmentally-related diseases remain a <br />troubling reality. Periodic outbreaks of water-borne disease, the hazards <br />to human health associated with the introduction of toxic substances into <br />the food chain, and the poorly understood hazards of low-level radiation, <br />are all examples of environmental health situations which continue to pose <br />real problems. <br /> <br />The environment in Colorado presents a number of rather unique <br />environmental health challenges. Of particular concern is the need to <br />protect the public from the chemical, physical and biological hazards <br />associated with past and present industrial, energy and mineral <br />development. <br /> <br />The National Cancer Institute estimates that some 80 percent of human <br />cancers are environmentally induced. Several elements present in <br />Colorado's environment are thought to be associated with cancer as well as <br />other chronic illnesses. For example, arsenic, lead, and selenium, which <br />have been found to be present in small amounts in some water supplies, may <br />be a factor in the development of certain types of cancers. The presence <br /> <br />-13- <br /> <br />-":::....-' <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.<, ,'. ~_ .,,'. ~A <br />