Death in Uranium Enrichment Facility Accident in Russia

Russian media reported that a person died in an accident at a uranium enrichment facility in the Ural region on Friday. The Russian state nuclear energy company, Rosatom, stated that the accident poses no threat to the health of people in the area. The facility mentioned that there was a "pressure release from a cylinder containing depleted uranium hexafluoride," and that "radiation levels at the site and in the surrounding area are normal." Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical used in uranium enrichment. Rosatom, the owner of the plant, stated that when the compound is depleted, it is less radioactive than natural uranium and does not pose any threat to human health. They added that "the worker died as a result of injuries caused by a malfunction of one of the depleted uranium hexafluoride containers." The plant's deputy production manager stated, "There is no danger of any kind to the residents of Novouralsk or to the workers at the plant," noting that "operations continue normally."