ABSTRACT
The underground mining of uranium, the source of nuclear energy, is less than one-tenth as dangerous as mining coal, and strip mining for uranium is less than one-hundredth part as dangerous as coal mining underground. These statements refer to relative risks calculated for equal output not in tonnage but in energy; nuclear energy equals coal energy. The relative risks are also calculated for the poor efficiency of uranium utilisation discussed. For the much greater efficiency given by breeder reactors, the relative risk of uranium mining would be so small as to be negligible. In the past about 140 coal miners were killed each year in the United States. Although this number is much less than it used to be and is currentlybeing reduced, there will still be many unnecessary deaths of American miners for each decade that coal is preferred to uranium as an energy source.
