Bad Air is oxygen-deficient or toxic air that can build up in abandoned mines, causing dizziness or even unconsciousness. Bad air is odorless and tasteless. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide often collect in low areas or along the floor in horizontal workings. The motion of walking can cause bad air to mix with good air. The effects of radiation exposure are cumulative through a lifetime.
Excessive exposure can be harmful or eventually fatal.
Many abandoned uranium mines in southern Utah are potential sources of radiation. Hazardous Waste such as bags or drums of chemicals used in mining, milling or drilling operations can pose a threat when touched or smelled by an uninformed person. Illegal dumping of industrial hazardous waste can also occur. Water Hazards occur in flooded abandoned mines. You can drown in a water-filled shaft.