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Nuclear Phosphate Research
Experts will assemble in Vienna, Austria, at the end of September 2011 to review the current state of knowledge on production of uranium from phosphate rocks, to analyze the first draft of the of the planned IAEA technical publication on uranium production from phosphate rocks, and to discuss the structure and content of on-going capacity-building measures, including the national and regional training courses, workshops, and hands-on training.

The IAEA's interest in uranium from phosphate rocks, and all mineralogical sources, stems from a concern that the availability of uranium to fuel the world's nuclear energy requirements will not be easily met through the year 2050.

Uranium-238 is found naturally in low grade concentrations in conjunction with Florida's phosphate rock. Prior to 1999, depending on a threshold market price for uranium, it has been extracted from the phosphate rock in a processing step that forms "yellow cake" uranium. Yellow cake uranium is then sold to be further refined and enriched as a fuel source for nuclear reactors. The IAEA is working to accumulate up-to-date information on all possible mineral sources of uranium worldwide.

Dr. Birky has directed public and environmental health research for the FIPR Institute for the last 11 years. He holds a PhD in health physics from the University of Florida, and his primary expertise is in the health effects of environmental radiation.