Meta-analysis of depleted uranium levels in the Middle East region

Bešić, Larisa; Muhovic, Imer; Mrkulić, Fatima; Spahić, Lemana; Omanović, Ammar; Kurtovic-Kozaric, Amina

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.06.004

Cited by 20 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The issue of DU contamination in the region is often discussed under the heading “Gulf War Syndrome” because of its possible impact on human health (Bem & Bou‐Rabee, 2004; Bešić et al, 2018). Several past studies (e.g., Bem & Bou‐Rabee, 2004; Bou‐Rabee et al, 1995; Luckett, 2006) have analyzed soil and water samples from Kuwait and found that DU did not cause significant “radiological hazard” to human beings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DU can be used as a “tracer” for the transport and deposition of pollutants in the region. The air and soil samples collected in several countries of the Middle East have shown evidence of DU contamination (Bešić et al, 2018). The DU contamination in the downwind region supports our finding that dust originating from the Tigris‐Euphrates river basin spreads to an entire downwind region of the Arabian Peninsula.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dust Emission Modeling Using a New High‐Resolution Dust Source Function in WRF‐Chem With Implications for Air Quality

et al. 2019

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Air-borne dust affects all aspects of human life. The sources of dust have high spatial variation and a better quantification of dust emission helps to identify remediation measures. Orographic and statistical source functions allow a better estimation of dust emission fluxes in coarse-scale modeling, but a high-resolution source function is necessary to represent the highly heterogeneous nature of dust sources at the finer scale. Here we use a newly developed high-resolution (~500 m) source function in Weather Research and Forecasting model, coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) to simulate dust emission over the Middle East and North Africa and evaluate our simulated results against observations. Using a 4-km grid spacing, we also simulate the emission and transport of dust originating from the Tigris-Euphrates basin, one of the most important regional dust sources, and quantify the effects of this source on the air quality of the entire Arabian Peninsula. Results show that the use of new source function effectively represents the key dust sources and provides reasonable estimates of dust optical depth and concentrations. We find that the atmospheric dust originating from the Tigris-Euphrates basin alone exceeds the particulate matter 10 air quality standards in several downwind cities. Our results have broader environmental implications and indicate that the mobilization of depleted uranium deposited in Kuwait and Southern Iraq during the Gulf War (1991) could potentially affect the urban centers over the peninsula, albeit in low concentrations. Our results suggest that an integrated and coordinated management of the Tigris-Euphrates basin is necessary to maintain good air quality across the Arabian Peninsula.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dust Emission Modeling Using a New High‐Resolution Dust Source Function in WRF‐Chem With Implications for Air Quality

et al. 2019

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“…Several risk factors have been associated with increased risk of CNS cancers including ionizing radiation (26,27) and pesticide exposure (28)(29)(30)(31)(32). In Lebanon, several studies reported that the several wars and conflicts that occurred in the country caused high levels of depleted uranium (33,34). Moreover, CT scan radiations may contribute as well (35).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Central nervous system cancers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: where does Lebanon stand

Salhab¹,

Khachfe²,

Fares³

et al. 2020

Chin Clin Oncol

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Background: Central nervous system (CNS) cancers are rare but deadly, with little data in the literature to describe its incidence in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study investigates the incidence-rates of these cancers MENA, determine Lebanon's current state in contrast, compare the incidence-rates of these cancers in Lebanon to other countries from several regions of the world, and discuss contributing risk factors.Methods: CNS cancers data for the years 2005 to 2015 was collected from the National Cancer Registry of Lebanon and stratified by gender and age group. Age-specific and age-standardized incidence-rates were calculated and analyzed using Joinpoint regression. Age standardized incidence-rates to the world population [ASR(w)] for other countries were obtained from two online databases.Results: Lebanon ranked third and fourth in CNS cancers incidence in MENA region for males and females, respectively. However, Lebanon had low incidence when compared to other regions of the world.CNS cancers ASR(w) showed a non-significantly increasing trend over the period studied for Lebanese males and females. Incidence-rate increased with age in both sexes and the average age of incidence was around 44 years.Conclusions: Lebanon has relatively high incidence of CNS cancer in both sexes when compared to other MENA countries. CNS cancers incidence-rate is on the rise and children younger than 9 years as well as adults above 30 years are remarkably burdened by these diseases. Several risk factors, particularly ionizing radiation and pesticide exposure play a role in increased CNS cancers incidence among the Lebanese population.

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“…The chemical toxicity obviously dominates in depleted uranium (DU), where the amount of the 235 U isotope has been significantly reduced in favour of the less radioactive (i.e., longer half-life) 238 U isotope 47 . As DU is used in military equipment including certain ammunitions 52 , DU contamination has emerged as a potential environmental problem in regions of war such as Iraq and the Balkans [53][54][55][56][57][58][59] , with unclear health consequences for soldiers and civilians 47,49,[60][61][62] . To what extent DU contributes to leukemia or lung cancer remains debated [63][64][65][66] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of uranyl (UO₂²⁺) ion binding to amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides: effects on Aβ structure and aggregation

Berntsson

Vosough

Noormägi

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Uranium (U) is naturally present in ambient air, water, and soil, and depleted uranium (DU) is released into the environment via industrial and military activities. While the radiological damage from U is rather well understood, less is known about the chemical damage mechanisms, which dominate in DU. Heavy metal exposure is associated with numerous health conditions including Alzheimers disease (AD), the most prevalent age-related cause of dementia. The pathological hallmark of AD is deposition of amyloid plaques, consisting mainly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides aggregated into amyloid fibrils in the brain. However, the toxic species in AD are likely oligomeric Aβ aggregates. Exposure to heavy metals such as Cd, Hg, Mn, and Pb is known to increase Aβ production, and these metals bind to Aβ peptides and modulate their aggregation. Possible effects of U in AD pathology have been sparsely studied. Here, we use biophysical techniques to study in vitro interactions between Aβ peptides and uranyl ions, UO22+, of DU. We show for the first time that uranyl ions bind to Aβ peptides with affinities in the micromolar range, induce structural changes in Aβ monomers and oligomers, and inhibit Aβ fibrillization. General toxic mechanisms of uranyl ions could be modulation of protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation.

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Meta-analysis of depleted uranium levels in the Middle East region

Cited by 20 publications

References 32 publications

Dust Emission Modeling Using a New High‐Resolution Dust Source Function in WRF‐Chem With Implications for Air Quality

Dust Emission Modeling Using a New High‐Resolution Dust Source Function in WRF‐Chem With Implications for Air Quality

Central nervous system cancers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: where does Lebanon stand

Characterization of uranyl (UO₂²⁺) ion binding to amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides: effects on Aβ structure and aggregation

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Meta-analysis of depleted uranium levels in the Middle East region

Cited by 20 publications

References 32 publications

Dust Emission Modeling Using a New High‐Resolution Dust Source Function in WRF‐Chem With Implications for Air Quality

Dust Emission Modeling Using a New High‐Resolution Dust Source Function in WRF‐Chem With Implications for Air Quality

Central nervous system cancers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: where does Lebanon stand

Characterization of uranyl (UO22+) ion binding to amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides: effects on Aβ structure and aggregation

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Characterization of uranyl (UO₂²⁺) ion binding to amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides: effects on Aβ structure and aggregation