Saturday, July 11, 2009
Veterans Exposue to Depleted Uranium
Biological monitoring for depleted uranium exposure in U.S. Veterans. 07/11/09. BACKGROUND: As part of an ongoing medical surveillance program for U.S. veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU), biological monitoring of urine uranium (U) concentrations is offered to any veteran of the Gulf War and those serving in more recent conflicts (post-Gulf War veterans). OBJECTIVES: Since a previous report of surveillance findings in 2004, an improved methodology for determination of the isotopic ratio of U in urine ((235)U:(238)U) has been developed and allows for more definitive evaluation of DU exposure. This report updates previous findings. METHODS: Veterans provide a 24-hr urine specimen and complete a DU exposure questionnaire. Specimens are sent to the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center for processing. Uranium concentration and isotopic ratio are measured using ICP-MS at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. RESULTS: Between January 2003 and June 2008, we received 1,769 urine specimens for U analysis. The mean urine U measure was 0.009 microg U/g creatinine. Mean urine U concentrations for Gulf War and post-Gulf War veterans were 0.008 and 0.009 microg U/g creatinine, respectively. Only 3 of the 1,700 (0.01%) specimens for which we completed isotopic determination showed evidence of DU. Exposure histories confirmed that these three individuals had been involved in "friendly fire" incidents involving DU munitions or armored vehicles. CONCLUSIONS: No urine U measure with a "depleted" isotopic signature has been detected in U.S. veterans without a history of retained DU embedded fragments from previous injury. These findings suggest that future DU-related health harm is unlikely in veterans without DU fragments. Environmental Health Perspectives
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4 comments:
In 2004, I lost a dear friend to lung cancer. He had been in the Air Force for about 12 yrs, had served in the 1st Gulf War, and had completed other tours of the Middle East as well.
Since he'd never smoked, been around much 2nd-hand smoke, etc. and had taken good care of his health overall, he was mystified as to how he had lung cancer so virulent it had even invaded his heart muscle.
His civilian doctors were convinced that his time in the Middle East were responsible, particularly his exposure to depleted uranium. Mixed with blowing fine sand and burning with oil fires only complicated the conditions under which various cancers would have thrived.
It amazes me that the government can find notable institutions to protect it.
Smidgen,
What made your friend's civilian doctors blame depleted uranium? Where were they that they claim to have been exposed to DU? DU was not in the oil well fire cloude. DU was in the immediate vicinity of destroyed tanks that had been hit by a DU kinetic energy penetrator. Did your friend file a claim with the VA? How was it adjudicated? Write me, I will write back. I want to see all the facts.
Roger
DUStory-owner@yahoogroups.com
Mike,
I am glad that you posted Dr McDiarmid's report. Unfortunately, it will draw unsupported comments like that of Smidgen. It is too bad that the VA can not release more detail about veterans that claim DU exposure but are proven to not have it.
Roger
DUStory-owner@yahoogroups.com
Smidgen neglected to tell us that she (or he) is the princial poster to an anti-nuclear/uranium mining site - that makes my earlier question regarding the alleged Air Force veteran even more relevant. Smidgen has a long history of anti-uranium postings and appears thus to be an anti-uranium mining activist. They neglected to tell readers of this blog about that clear bias, though, if you click on the name, you will find the other site.
Roger
DUStory-owner@yahoogroups.com
Smidgen, an alleged Kentuckian, runs the blog "Southside Virginia Against Uranium Mining" - rather odd that they are not even a Virginian! They apparently do not like to receive mail. I find no e-mail address for her or him. They have posted dozens of articles about depleted uranium being disposed of in Utah and the artificial controversy posed by Utah anti-nuclear groups. They moderate their posts and I doubt that mine will be posted on their site.
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