Biological effects of embedded depleted uranium (DU): summary of Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute research

McClain, David E.; Benson, Kimberly; Dalton, Thomas K.; Ejnik, John W.; Emond, Christy A.; Hodge, Shelly J.; Kalinich, John F.; Landauer, M.A; Miller, Alexandra C.; Pellmar, Terry C.; Stewart, M. D.; Villa, Vilmar; Xu, Jiaquan

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(01)00734-3

Cited by 53 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The effect of uranium on the respiratory system has been widely studied and uranium has been found to cause both non-malignant and malignant lung diseases (Pinkerton et al 2004). Although hepatic toxicity has not been described as a major consequence of uranium exposure in the literature, there is evidence that it may cause liver lesions (McClain et al 2001;Leggett and Pellmar 2003;Craft et al 2004). Previous works on the uranium biological effects have reported alterations to the cytochrome P450 hepatic system (Gueguen et al 2006).…”

Section: Uraniummentioning

confidence: 99%

Urinary heavy metals and associated medical conditions in the US adult population

Mendy

Gasana

Vieira

2012

International Journal of Environmental Health Research

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Health effects of heavy metals have been widely investigated, but further evaluation is required to comprehensively delineate their toxicity. Using data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on 1,857 adults to examine the relationship between urinary heavy metals and various medical conditions. Cardiovascular diseases were correlated to cadmium (OR: 4.94, 95% CI: 1.48-16.56) and lead (OR: 5.32, 95% CI: 1.08-26.21). Asthma was related to tungsten (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.15-2.59) and uranium (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.28). Hepatotoxicity was associated with molybdenum (OR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.24-7.73) and uranium (OR: 4.79, 95% CI: 1.74-13.19). Surprising inverse relationships occurred for excessive weight with lead (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.52-0.98), reduced visual acuity with cobalt (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44-0.95) and cesium (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35-0.77). This study supports some previous evidence of potential relationships and provides insights for future research.

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Section: Uraniummentioning

confidence: 99%

Urinary heavy metals and associated medical conditions in the US adult population

Mendy

Gasana

Vieira

2012

International Journal of Environmental Health Research

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“…Recently, growing concern has arisen regarding the DU released from munitions employed in conflict areas, such as the Middle East and Kosovo (Bem and Bou-Rabee, 2004;Jia et al, 2004Jia et al, , 2005Di Lella et al, 2005), as well as weapons testing sites (Bleise et al, 2003;McClain et al, 2001;Oliver et al, 2007Oliver et al, , 2008. While chemical toxicity of natural U is considered to be identical to DU, radiological toxicities are different, since DU emits around 40% less radiation than natural U (Craft et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaccumulation and biological effects in the earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to natural and depleted uranium

Giovanetti

Fesenko

Cozzella

et al. 2010

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…DU is a by-product of uranium enrichment and has roughly 60-75% of the radioactivity of an equivalent amount of natural uranium (Hindin et al, 2005;Craft et al, 2004) due to the reduction of the percentage of radioactive isotopes ( 234 U and 235 U) from 0.72% and 0.006%, respectively, in natural uranium to 0.2% and 0.001% (McClain et al, 2001). The similarity in chemistry between DU and natural uranium, a chemical whose toxicology has been studied extensively, suggests that DU should exert similar toxic properties.…”

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confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Effect of Implanted Depleted Uranium (DU) on Adult Rat Behavior and Toxicological Endpoints

Arfsten

Wilfong

Bekkedal

et al. 2007

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

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In 2002, the Naval Health Research Center Toxicology Detachment began a study to determine the effects of surgically implanted depleted uranium (DU) pellets on adult rat (e.g., P1 generation) health and reproduction. In this report, the effect of implanted DU on adult rat behavior and health is described. Adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, 8 wk of age, were surgically implanted with 0, 4, 8, 12, or 20 DU pellets (1 x 2 mm); 20 DU pellets of size 1 x 2 mm approximates to 0.22 kg (0.5 lb) of DU in a 70-kg (154 lb) person. Control animals were implanted with 12 or 20 tantallum (Ta) pellets. The animals were then housed for up to 150 d postimplantation or 20% of an assumed 2-yr life span for rats. The concentration of uranium in urine directly correlated with the number of implanted DU pellets, indicating that DU was migrating into the body from the implanted pellets. Three male and 4 female animals died during the 150-d period of causes apparently not related to DU implantation. Behavioral testing found no definitive evidence of neurobehavioral perturbations associated with DU implantation. Uranium translocated to tissues known to sequester uranium (bone, teeth, and kidneys), but uranium concentrations varied considerably within each dose group and did not follow a dose-response pattern as anticipated. Serum chemistry values were within normal ranges for the SD rat. However, alanine aminotransferase measurements were significantly lower for rats implanted with 20 DU pellets as compared to sham surgery controls but not when compared to animals implanted with Ta pellets only. Phosphate measurements were significantly lower for female rats implanted with 20 DU pellets as compared to both sham surgery controls and animals implanted with Ta pellets only. Monocyte ratios were higher in adult rats implanted with 20 DU pellets as compared to sham surgery controls but not when compared to animals implanted with 20 Ta pellets. Mean platelet volume was found to be significantly lower for rats implanted with 20 DU pellets as compared to sham surgery controls but not when compared to animals implanted with 20 Ta pellets. Gross necropsy found no obvious tissue abnormalities in implanted rats, and the weights of major tissues did not differ between Ta- and DU-implanted animals. Histopathologic analysis of major tissues from animals implanted with 0 pellets, 20 Ta pellets, or 20 DU pellets found no differences between treatment groups. The findings of this study indicate that implantation of up to 20 DU pellets in adult rats did not have a significant negative impact on their general health and neurobehavioral capacities when assessed after 150 d of pellet implantation. However, the growing body of data on the potential health effects associated with DU exposure warrants further studies involving higher embedded DU body burdens in conjunction with longer surveillance periods postimplantation.

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Biological effects of embedded depleted uranium (DU): summary of Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute research

Cited by 53 publications

References 5 publications

Urinary heavy metals and associated medical conditions in the US adult population

Urinary heavy metals and associated medical conditions in the US adult population

Bioaccumulation and biological effects in the earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to natural and depleted uranium

Evaluation of the Effect of Implanted Depleted Uranium (DU) on Adult Rat Behavior and Toxicological Endpoints

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