Neurotoxicity From Chronic Exposure to Depleted Uranium

Depleted uranium is almost entirely composed of the 238U isotope (uranium-238) and is a residue of the enrichment or reprocessing process of natural uranium to obtain the 235U isotope (Uranium-235), used in fission in nuclear reactors and bombs. Its high density (19,050 kg / m³), 67% higher than that of lead, makes depleted uranium a suitable material for various civil and military applications. In the civilian field it is used mainly as ballast in aircraft, boats and submarines and as a shield against radiation. In the military, it is used in projectiles (called "penetrators"), physical armor and artillery pieces in general. Such uses are controversial. Although it is less toxic than other heavy metals (such as arsenic and mercury) and weakly radioactive, due to its long half-life of about 4.5 billion years, it emits the equivalent of about 60% of the radiation emanating from the natural uranium, it has been proven, from several laboratory studies, that it is toxic to mammals, attacks the reproductive system and the development of the fetus, causing reduced fertility, abortions and deformities in newborns. Cytological tests show that, with chronic exposure, DU is leukogenic, mutagenic and also neurotoxic.

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Disturbances in the functioning of the immune system as a consequence of a prolonged expоsure to low dosages of depleted uranium

Medico-Biological and Socio-Psychological Problems of Safety in Emergency Situations ◽

10.25016/2541-7487-2018-0-3-73-79 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 73-79

Author(s):

K. I. Stosman ◽

K. V. Sivak ◽

T. N. Savateeva-Ljubimova

Keyword(s):

Chronic Exposure ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Early Stage ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Relative Number ◽

Uranyl Acetate ◽

Depleted Uranium ◽

Delayed Type Hypersensitivity ◽

Industrial Facilities ◽

Tnf Α

Relevance. Depleted uranium (DU) is actively used in many industries. The problems of the safety of personnel employed at industrial facilities of this kind continue to remain relevant. Experimental studies have shown the toxicity of uranium compounds, especially its soluble forms.Intention. To identify immunological disorders developing after chronic exposure to low-dose depleted uranium.Methods. The study involved 30 outbred rats and 60 mice CBA. Uranyl acetate dehydrate was used as a toxicant and administered intragastrically for 120 days. The relative number of T-lymphocytes, apoptotic and necrotic cells, the production of TNF-α, IL-1, -4, -6-β, the level of circulating immune complexes, the phagocytic activity of neutrophils, delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, and production of immunoglobulins were assessed.Results and Discussion. According to the tests on rats, phagocytic-metabolic activity of neutrophils as well as TNF-α production increased, CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased, and the early stage apoptosis of mononuclear cells was activated after chronic exposure to uranium salts. Most detected changes were dose-dependent. In experiments on mice it was shown that uranyl acetate dehydrate at a dose of 5 mg/kg had no effect on the functional activity of immunocytes, while the index of the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and IgG titers increased in animals which were administered DU at a dose of 10 mg/kg.Conclusion. The results can be used to provide specialized medical care after chronic exposure to depleted uranium.

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Alteration of Mouse Oocyte Quality after a Chronic Exposure to Depleted Uranium.

Radioprotection ◽

10.1051/radiopro:2008650 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

Author(s):

A. Feugier ◽

S. Frelon ◽

P. Gourmelon ◽

M. Claraz

Keyword(s):

Chronic Exposure ◽

Oocyte Quality ◽

Depleted Uranium ◽

Mouse Oocyte

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Impact of chronic exposure with low dose of depleted uranium on rats treated with different acetaminophen doses

Toxicology Letters ◽

10.1016/j.toxlet.2009.06.363 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 189 ◽

pp. S112-S113

Author(s):

Line Grandcolas ◽

Caroline Rouas ◽

Stéphane Grison ◽

Cédric Baudelin ◽

Maamar Souidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Exposure ◽

Low Dose ◽

Depleted Uranium

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Effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of waterborne depleted uranium on the digestive tract of zebrafish, Danio rerio

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity ◽

10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.01.002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. 45-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Starrlight Augustine ◽

Sandrine Pereira ◽

Magali Floriani ◽

Virginie Camilleri ◽

Sebastiaan A.L.M. Kooijman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Digestive Tract ◽

Danio Rerio ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Depleted Uranium

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Development of apical pits in chloride cells of the gills of Pimephales promelas after chronic exposure to acid water

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100076044 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 462-463

Author(s):

Richard L. Leino ◽

Jon G. Anderson ◽

J. Howard McCormick

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Lake Superior ◽

Pimephales Promelas ◽

Chloride Cells ◽

Fathead Minnows ◽

Secondary Lamellae ◽

Untreated Water ◽

Water Ph ◽

Flow Through

Groups of 12 fathead minnows were exposed for 129 days to Lake Superior water acidified (pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 or 6.5) with reagent grade H2SO4 by means of a multichannel toxicant system for flow-through bioassays. Untreated water (pH 7.5) had the following properties: hardness 45.3 ± 0.3 (95% confidence interval) mg/1 as CaCO3; alkalinity 42.6 ± 0.2 mg/1; Cl- 0.03 meq/1; Na+ 0.05 meq/1; K+ 0.01 meq/1; Ca2+ 0.68 meq/1; Mg2+ 0.26 meq/1; dissolved O2 5.8 ± 0.3 mg/1; free CO2 3.2 ± 0.4 mg/1; T= 24.3 ± 0.1°C. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd gills were subsequently processed for LM (methacrylate), TEM and SEM respectively.Three changes involving chloride cells were correlated with increasing acidity: 1) the appearance of apical pits (figs. 2,5 as compared to figs. 1, 3,4) in chloride cells (about 22% of the chloride cells had pits at pH 5.0); 2) increases in their numbers and 3) increases in the % of these cells in the epithelium of the secondary lamellae.

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The Effect of Vitamin A on the Intermittent Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Exposure in Hamsters

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100090865 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 176-177

Author(s):

J.C.S. Kim ◽

M.G. Jourden ◽

E.S. Carlisle

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Nitrogen Dioxide ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Deficient Diet ◽

Intermittent Exposure ◽

Hypovitaminosis A ◽

Gas Exposure

Chronic exposure to nitrogen dioxide in rodents has shown that injury reaches a maximum after 24 hours, and a reparative adaptive phase follows (1). Damage occurring in the terminal bronchioles and proximal portions of the alveolar ducts in rats has been extensively studied by both light and electron microscopy (1).The present study was undertaken to compare the response of lung tissue to intermittent exposure to 10 ppm of nitrogen dioxide gas for 4 hours per week, while the hamsters were on a vitamin A deficient diet. Ultrastructural observations made from lung tissues obtained from non-gas exposed, hypovitaminosis A animals and gas exposed animals fed a regular commercially prepared diet have been compared to elucidate the specific effect of vitamin A on nitrogen dioxide gas exposure. The interaction occurring between vitamin A and nitrogen dioxide gas has not previously been investigated.

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