Melissa A McDiarmid1, Joanna M Gaitens1, Stella Hines1, Marian Condon2, Tracy Roth1, Marc Oliver1, Patricia Gucer1, Lawrence Brown3, Jose A Centeno4, Moira Dux5, Katherine S Squibb1. 1. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. 2. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: mcondon@medicine.umaryland.edu. 3. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. 4. US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA. 5. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly-fire incidents have been monitored for health changes in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994. METHODS: During the spring of 2015, an in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 36 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes. RESULTS: On-going mobilization of U from embedded fragments is evidenced by elevated urine U concentrations. The DU isotopic signature is observed principally in participants possessing embedded fragments. Those with only an inhalation exposure have lower urine U concentration and a natural isotopic signature. CONCLUSIONS: At 25 years since first exposure to DU, an aging cohort of military veterans continues to show no U-related health effects in known target organs of U toxicity. As U body burden continues to accrue from in-situ mobilization from metal fragment depots, and increases with exposure duration, critical tissue-specific U concentration thresholds may be reached, thus recommending on-going surveillance of this veteran cohort. Published by Elsevier Inc.
BACKGROUND: A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly-fire incidents have been monitored for health changes in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994. METHODS: During the spring of 2015, an in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 36 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes. RESULTS: On-going mobilization of U from embedded fragments is evidenced by elevated urine U concentrations. The DU isotopic signature is observed principally in participants possessing embedded fragments. Those with only an inhalation exposure have lower urine U concentration and a natural isotopic signature. CONCLUSIONS: At 25 years since first exposure to DU, an aging cohort of military veterans continues to show no U-related health effects in known target organs of U toxicity. As U body burden continues to accrue from in-situ mobilization from metal fragment depots, and increases with exposure duration, critical tissue-specific U concentration thresholds may be reached, thus recommending on-going surveillance of this veteran cohort. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Entities:
Keywords:
DU bio-monitoring; Health surveillance; Uranium toxicity
Authors: Marta Geretto; Marco Ferrari; Roberta De Angelis; Filippo Crociata; Nicola Sebastiani; Alessandra Pulliero; William Au; Alberto Izzotti Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-18 Impact factor: 3.390