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Contamination from depleted uranium found in urine 20 years later
October 24, 2007Inhaled depleted uranium (DU) oxide aerosols are recognised as a distinct human health hazard and DU has been suggested to be responsible in part for illness in both military and civilian populations that may have been exposed.
University of Leicester geologist, Professor Randall R Parrish will be giving this message to the 119th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on 28 October 2007 at 10.05-10.25am.
In his talk entitled: 'Depleted uranium (DU): its environmental dispersion and human uptake' he will outline his research findings on a new method of tracing DU.
The issue has been the subject of investigations by the Royal Society (UK), the National Academy of Science (US) and other bodies, but studies of individuals who have been clearly exposed to environmental contamination are lacking.
Professor Parrish commented: "Our objective was to develop a high sensitivity method of EU detection in urine, using MC-ICP mass spectrometry that would be capable of detecting an individual's exposure to DU up to 20 years after the event.
"We developed this method and applied it to individuals, either known or likely to have had a DU aerosol inhalation exposure, and to a large voluntary cohort of 1991 Gulf conflict veterans to assess DU exposure screening reliability and accumulate data on exposure."
Using his method, Professor Parrish and his research team have found traces of DU in urine more than 20 years later, in those cases where exposure to DU aerosol has been unambiguous and in sufficient quantity. This is true even when the U concentration is at the low end of the normal range.
Most such samples would return a negative screening result with other, less sensitive, methods.
Professor Parrish added: "Our method has been used to show that it is capable of resolving legal cases based on a claim of DU exposure. Also it shows that the occurrence of DU in 1991 Gulf Conflict veterans is likely to be uncommon to rare, but if a significant inhalation exposure occurred then it can be detected in urine for decades to come.
"It offers a way to resolve debates about DU and health and provide perspective on the issue. Resolving the potential implications of DU to health in contaminated populations is best done by properly testing exposed cohorts. The cohorts in need of study are those living in DU-contaminated areas of Iraq, or those living in the vicinity of DU munitions factories with large DU contamination footprints."
University of Leicester
The issue has been the subject of investigations by the Royal Society (UK), the National Academy of Science (US) and other bodies, but studies of individuals who have been clearly exposed to environmental contamination are lacking.
Professor Parrish commented: "Our objective was to develop a high sensitivity method of EU detection in urine, using MC-ICP mass spectrometry that would be capable of detecting an individual's exposure to DU up to 20 years after the event.
"We developed this method and applied it to individuals, either known or likely to have had a DU aerosol inhalation exposure, and to a large voluntary cohort of 1991 Gulf conflict veterans to assess DU exposure screening reliability and accumulate data on exposure."
Using his method, Professor Parrish and his research team have found traces of DU in urine more than 20 years later, in those cases where exposure to DU aerosol has been unambiguous and in sufficient quantity. This is true even when the U concentration is at the low end of the normal range.
Most such samples would return a negative screening result with other, less sensitive, methods.
Professor Parrish added: "Our method has been used to show that it is capable of resolving legal cases based on a claim of DU exposure. Also it shows that the occurrence of DU in 1991 Gulf Conflict veterans is likely to be uncommon to rare, but if a significant inhalation exposure occurred then it can be detected in urine for decades to come.
"It offers a way to resolve debates about DU and health and provide perspective on the issue. Resolving the potential implications of DU to health in contaminated populations is best done by properly testing exposed cohorts. The cohorts in need of study are those living in DU-contaminated areas of Iraq, or those living in the vicinity of DU munitions factories with large DU contamination footprints."
University of Leicester
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New research on depleted uranium in the environment
The Natural Environment Research Council has today advertised for research proposals from scientists wishing to study the effect of depleted uranium on the environment. The study is in response to needs identified by the Ministry of Defence and will cost £1.2 million. The main objectives of the NERC programme will be to consider the transport, uptake and behaviour of depleted uranium in terrestrial and marine environments. The programme will cover some of the key environmental factors also identified in the Royal Society report, "The Health Hazards of DU Munitions, Part II". The proposed work includes how depleted uranium moves through the environment, what changes happen to
Depleted uranium shells make a deadly playground
EMBARGOED UNTIL WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 2001 19:00 BST UK CONTACT - Claire Bowles, New Scientist Press Office, London: Tel: +44(0)20 7331 2751 or email claire.bowles@rbi.co.uk SOIL in the Gulf and the Balkans that`s contaminated with debris from spent depleted uranium weapons presents far too high a risk to local children, an Italian study confirms. Playing in the soil dramatically raises the children`s chances of getting cancer and kidney damage. This is just one conclusion from a clutch of new studies into the safety or otherwise of DU, which the military uses in shells designed to pierce the armour plating of tanks. The Italian team says that children living in areas of conflict that have bee
Science & Public Affairs - February 2001
In this month's Science & Public Affairs"¦ The government's scientific advisory committees; science in sport; depleted uranium; the future of agriculture; the Airbus super-jumbo; R&D in Finland; e-democracy; researchers' views on science communication; technology and crime prevention. Editorial Challenges and uncertainties Professor David King, Chief Scientific Adviser, discusses the role of scientific advisory committees. Professor King notes that: "if we are to take advantage of new advances in science we need wide and open discussion of both their benefits and also of worries and unintended consequences, in ways that command public confidence and trust." The advisory committees need t
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