title: The social costs of uranium mining in the US Colorado Plateau cohort, 1960-2005.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term social costs associated with underground uranium mining are largely unknown. This study estimated health costs of Native American and white (Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin) uranium miners in the US Public Health Service Colorado Plateau cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elevated uranium miner person-years of life lost (PYLL) were calculated from the most recent study of the Colorado Plateau cohort over 1960-2005. Nine causes of death categories were included. Costs to society of miner PYLL were monetized using the value of a statistical life-year approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Costs over 1960-2005 totaled $2 billion USD [95% CI: $1.8, $2.2], or $2.9 million per elevated miner death. This corresponds to $43.1 million [95%: $38.7, $48.7] in annual costs. Lung cancer was the most costly cause of death at $1.4 billion [95%: $1.3, $1.5]. Absolute health costs were largest for white miners, but Native Americans had larger costs per elevated death. Annual excess mortality over 1960-2005 averaged 366.4 per 100,000 miners; 404.6 (white) and 201.5 per 100,000 (Native American).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research advances our understanding of uranium extraction legacy impacts, particularly among indigenous populations.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, 1 UNM Drive, MSC 05 3060, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA. bajones@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008906:Mining / Q000191:economics*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011886:Radon / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012829:Silicosis / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D011886:Radon
keywords: Colorado Plateau; Cost analysis; Miner health; Native Americans; Uranium mining