Human Health and Environmental Uranium

Abstract

Uranium from the environment enters the human body by ingestion with food and drink and by inhalation of respirable airborne uranium-containing dust particles or aerosols. A 70 kg, non-occupationally exposed 'Reference Man' living in Europe or in the United States has an estimated total body uranium content of about 22 micrograms. Uranium is absorbed from the intestine or the lungs, enters the bloodstream, and is rapidly deposited in the tissues, predominantly kidney and bone, or excreted into the urine. In the bloodstream, uranium is associated with red cells, and its clearance is relatively rapid. Renal toxicity is a major adverse effect of uranium, but the metal has toxic effects on the cardiovascular system, liver, muscle, and nervous system as well. Any possible direct risk of cancer or other chemical-or radiation-induced health detriments from uranium deposited in the human body is probably less than 0.005% in contrast to an expected indirect risk of 0.2% to 3% through inhaling the radioactive inert gas radon, which is produced by the decay of environmental uranium-238 in rocks and soil and is present in materials that are used to build dwellings and buildings where people live and work.

Pengukuran Kontaminasi Uranium dan Stronsium-90 Pada Kegiatan Analisis Uji In Vitro di Laboratorium Kimia PDPL BATAN

“…Masuknya uranium ke dalam tubuh dapat memengaruhi fungsi ginjal, paru-paru, hati, dan jantung. Urutan jaringan tubuh berdasarkan kadar uraniumnya, yaitu paru-paru > rangka > hati > ginjal [4], [5]. Meskipun demikian, risiko kanker dari paparan uranium dapat diturunkan melalui pemantauan medis yang terkendali supaya tingkat paparan uranium di bawah batas toksisitas akut [6].…”