RSNA 2003 

Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2003


M16-1156

Internal Contamination with Uranium Isotopes in the Civilian Population of Tora Bora, Kabul, and Jalalabad after Operation Enduring Freedom

Scientific Papers

Presented on December 3, 2003
Presented as part of M16: Radiation Oncology and Radiobiology (Nonmalignant Disease, Quality of Life, and Outcomes Research)

Participants

Asaf Durakovic MD, PhD, PRESENTER: Nothing to Disclose

Abstract: HTML Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the concentration and quantitative relationship of four uranium isotopes in the urine of civilians after Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Methods and Materials: Five male subjects from the Tora Bora, Lal Mah village of Jalalabad, and Bibi Mahro district of Kabul, presenting with a complex nonspecific symptomatology of fatigue, fever, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological alterations, had their urine samples collected under controlled conditions. The specimens were analyzed by pre-concentration, coprecipitation, evaporation, oxidation of organic matter, ion exchange chromatography, and mass spectrometry using a Thermo-Elemental Plasma54 multi-collector ICP-MS with an ion-counting Daly® detector. A blank control < 50 pg of uranium and a urine internal standard of 11.79 ng/L of uranium of natural ratio (238U/235U = 137.88) were analyzed by the same method after determination of correct values for standards. Results: 238U/235U ratio of 138.16 ± 0.22 with the respective percent values of 99.276 ± 0.001 and 0.719 ± 0.001 indicate the presence of natural uranium. Total uranium of 446.40 ng/L was 37.86 times higher than British control (11.79 ng/L) and 47.49 times higher than Afghan control. Total values of 234U were 6.3 x 10-3 ± 3 x 10-4 and 236U of 2.9 x 10-4 ± 9 x 10-5 percent with a 234U/238U ratio of 6.4 x 10-5 ± 3 x 10-6 and a 236U/238U ratio of 2.9 x 10-6 ± 9 x 10-7 indicating a presence of minute quantities of 236U with an interpretation compromised by the levels close to the detection limits. Conclusion: Our results confirm a significantly elevated presence of uranium isotopes in the urine of Afghan civilians after Operation Enduring Freedom. Possible explanation of our findings may be either a consequence of exposure due to deployment of weapons containing non-depleted uranium or unusually high levels of natural uranium in drinking water or soil in the particular geographic areas. Our current investigations of critical evaluation of biological specimens and environmental samples are in progress.       Questions about this event email: asaf@umrc.net

Cite This Abstract

Durakovic MD, PhD, A, Internal Contamination with Uranium Isotopes in the Civilian Population of Tora Bora, Kabul, and Jalalabad after Operation Enduring Freedom.  Radiological Society of North America 2003 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 30 - December 5, 2003 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2003/3102197.html