TY - JOUR
T1 - The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs depleted uranium exposed cohort at 25 Years
T2 - Longitudinal surveillance results
AU - McDiarmid, Melissa A.
AU - Gaitens, Joanna M.
AU - Hines, Stella
AU - Condon, Marian
AU - Roth, Tracy
AU - Oliver, Marc
AU - Gucer, Patricia
AU - Brown, Lawrence
AU - Centeno, Jose A.
AU - Dux, Moira
AU - Squibb, Katherine S.
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - DU bio-monitoring
KW - Health surveillance
KW - Uranium toxicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84994036055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84994036055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2016.10.016
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2016.10.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 27792941
AN - SCOPUS:84994036055
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 152
SP - 175
EP - 184
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
ER -