Review of the Toxicologic and Radiologic Risks to Military Personnel from Exposures to Depleted Uranium During and After Combat (2008) / Chapter Skim
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5 Toxic Effects of Uranium on Other Organ Systems
5 Toxic Effects of Uranium on Other Organ Systems
Pages 48-65
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From page 48... ...
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS Human Studies Animal studies have demonstrated uranium uptake by and possible functional effects on the brain, but human studies have not confirmed or substantiated a relationship between uranium exposure and neurologic disease (IOM 2000; Craft et al.
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More robust regression analyses that controlled for confounding factors, such as emotional status and general intellectual level, were conducted on A-IIac impairment scores from the 2001 and 2003 visits and urinary uranium concentrations. The results revealed a marginal association between measured urinary uranium and the accuracy index; however, the authors commented that the relationship in both years was driven by two cases with persistent complications due to combat injuries and their high urinary uranium concentrations (Hooper et al.
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. When rats ingested uranyl nitrate in drinking water (at a uranium concentration of 40 mg/L)
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(2004b) conducted the most comprehensive followup study of a group of Gulf War veterans exposed to DU.
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Thus, DU concentrations did not appear to affect reproductive capacity in the men studied. Information gathered through the continuing surveillance program of the male DU-exposed Gulf War veterans at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center contains no evidence of congenital anomalies or abnormal reproductive capacity.
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Subcutaneous administration of uranyl acetate at 1 and 2 mg/kg per day significantly decreased fetal body weight, increased the number of dead fetuses at birth, and increased the number of resorptions. Concerning teratogenic indexes, uranium was found to induce cleft palate, dorsal and facial hematomas, and skeletal malformations (Bosque et al.
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DU did not affect reproductive capacity, survival, or weight gain in parental males and females throughout the study period. There was no significant effect on birth weight, litter size, number of litters, percentage surviving pups on PND 4 and 20, or pup weight gain.
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HEPATIC EFFECTS Human Studies Humans exposed once to uranyl acetate dihydrate demonstrated increased serum alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase at 131 mg/kg per day (Pavlakis et al.
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. Inhaled uranium oxide particles deposited in the lung are transported by alveolar macrophages to the draining lymph nodes, where they may remain for several years.
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for Hepatic Cirrhosis in Uranium Workers Study Hepatic Cirrhosis Reference Colorado Plateau uranium-mill 0.52 (0.21-1.07)
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The etiology of the effect is unknown, but the presence of confounding factors in the suicide attempt makes interpretation difficult. Uranium accumulates in bone, affects bone metabolism, and, when ingested in drinking water, increases urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate, important components of bone structure.
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From page 59... ...
Animal Studies Data from the available animal studies suggest that oral exposure to uranium does not cause detectable damage to the musculoskeletal system. Examination of muscle after exposure to uranyl nitrate in drinking water showed no effects in Sprague-Dawley rats after 28 d (uranium at up to 40 mg/kg per day; Gilman et al.
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. No cardiac effects were observed in inhalation studies in several test species, including rats exposed to uranium (as uranium hexafluoride)
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for Circulatory, Heart, and Cerebrovascular Disease in Uranium Workers Cerebrovascular Study Circulatory Disease Heart Disease Disease Reference Colorado Plateau uranium-mill workers 0.81 (0.71-0.92)
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: Oak Ridge uranium conversion and enrichment, alpha and beta chemistry departments," because those workers were already included in the TEC/Y12 row for all workers.
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As discussed in Chapter 2, uranium can be absorbed through the skin, and resulting toxicity depends on the solubility of the uranium compounds and the vehicle used. SUMMARY • Neurobehavioral studies in Gulf War veterans are inconclusive.
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in studies that reported placental uranium transfer. • Although studies cited here indicated hematologic and possibly heptatic effects of DU, the exposure durations or concentrations do not appear to be appropriate for extrapolation to human exposure conditions.
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In addition, the reporting of spontaneous abortions and congenital anomalies should be continued. • The committee does not recommend additional studies of the hematologic or hepatotoxic effects of DU.
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