Biologic monitoring and surveillance results for the department of veterans affairs' depleted uranium cohort: Lessons learned from sustained exposure over two decades.
Am J Ind Med
; 58(6): 583-94, 2015 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25907888
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly fire incidents have been monitored in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994.METHODS:
An in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 35 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes.RESULTS:
Although urine U concentrations continue to be elevated in this group, illustrating on-going in situ mobilization of U from embedded fragments, no consistent U-related health effects have been observed.CONCLUSIONS:
Now more than 20 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 tissue concentrations continue to accrue with exposure duration, critical tissue-specific U concentration thresholds may be reached, thus recommending on-going surveillance of this veteran cohort.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Veteranos
/
Monitoreo del Ambiente
/
Vigilancia de la Población
/
Uranio
/
Exposición a la Guerra
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Screening_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Ind Med
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article