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ABSTRACT: In this study we report uranium analysis for human semen samples. Uranium quantification was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. No additives, such as chymotrypsin or bovine serum albumin, were used for semen liquefaction, as they showed significant uranium content. For method validation we spiked 2g aliquots of pooled control semen at three different levels of uranium: low at 5pg/g, medium at 50pg/g, and high at 1000pg/g. The detection limit was determined to be 0.8pg/g uranium in human semen. The data reproduced within 1.4-7% RSD and spike recoveries were 97-100%. The uranium level of the unspiked, pooled control semen was 2.9pg/g of semen (n=10). In addition six semen samples from a cohort of Veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU) in the 1991 Gulf War were analyzed with no knowledge of their exposure history. Uranium levels in the Veterans' semen samples ranged from undetectable (<0.8pg/g) to 3350pg/g. This wide concentration range for uranium in semen is consistent with known differences in current DU body burdens in these individuals, some of whom have retained embedded DU fragments.
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 08/2012; · 1.68 Impact Factor
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Melissa A McDiarmid,
Susan M Engelhardt,
Marc Oliver,
Patricia Gucer,
P David Wilson,
Robert Kane,
Michael Kabat,
Bruce Kaup, Larry Anderson,
Dennis Hoover,
Lawrence Brown,
Richard J Albertini,
Rama Gudi,
David Jacobson-Kram,
Craig D Thorne,
Katherine S Squibb
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ABSTRACT: To relate medical surveillance outcomes to uranium biomonitoring results in a group of depleted uranium (DU)-exposed, Gulf War I veterans.
Thirty-two veterans of Gulf War I who were victims of 'friendly fire' involving DU weapons, in whom exposure assessment can accurately be measured, had urine uranium concentrations determined using ICP-MS technology. Clinical laboratory parameters were measured and related to urine uranium concentrations. Data were examined by stratifying the cohort into a low U group, <0.10 mug/g creatinine versus a high U group, >/=0.10 mug/g creatinine and assessing differences between groups.
Over a decade after first exposure, soldiers possessing embedded DU fragments continue to excrete elevated concentrations of uranium in urine. No clinically significant uranium related health effects were observed in blood count, blood chemistries including renal markers, neuropsychological measures, and semen quality or genotoxicity measures. Markers of early changes in renal glomerular and tubular function were not statistically different between groups; however, genotoxicity measures continue to show subtle, mixed results.
Persistent urine uranium elevations continue to be observed more than 12 years since first exposure. Despite this, renal and other clinical abnormalities were not observed, likely due to the 'relatively' low uranium burden in this cohort compared to historical uranium-exposed occupational groups. Continuing surveillance is indicated, however, due to the on-going nature of the exposure. These results are an important finding in light of the on-going controversy regarding health effects observed in soldiers of the Gulf War and other conflicts, whose uranium exposure assessment is unable to be accurately determined.
Archiv für Gewerbepathologie und Gewerbehygiene 02/2006; 79(1):11-21. · 1.89 Impact Factor
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Melissa A McDiarmid,
Susan Engelhardt,
Marc Oliver,
Patricia Gucer,
P David Wilson,
Robert Kane,
Michael Kabat,
Bruce Kaup, Larry Anderson,
Dennis Hoover,
Lawrence Brown,
Barry Handwerger,
Richard J Albertini,
David Jacobson-Kram,
Craig D Thorne,
Katherine S Squibb
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ABSTRACT: Medical surveillance of a group of U.S. Gulf War veterans who were victims of depleted uranium (DU) "friendly fire" has been carried out since the early 1990s. Findings to date reveal a persistent elevation of urine uranium, more than 10 yr after exposure, in those veterans with retained shrapnel fragments. The excretion is presumably from ongoing mobilization of DU from fragments oxidizing in situ. Other clinical outcomes related to urine uranium measures have revealed few abnormalities. Renal function is normal despite the kidney's expected involvement as the "critical" target organ of uranium toxicity. Subtle perturbations in some proximal tubular parameters may suggest early although not clinically significant effects of uranium exposure. A mixed picture of genotoxic outcomes is also observed, including an association of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mutation frequency with high urine uranium levels. Findings observed in this chronically exposed cohort offer guidance for predicting future health effects in other potentially exposed populations and provide helpful data for hazard communication for future deployed personnel.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 03/2004; 67(4):277-96. · 1.83 Impact Factor
