Dorsey Carrie D, Engelhardt Susan M, Squibb Katherine S, McDiarmid Melissa A
Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Jun;117(6):953-6. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0800413. Epub 2009 Feb 25.
As part of an ongoing medical surveillance program for U.S. veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU), biological monitoring of urine uranium (U) concentrations is offered to any veteran of the Gulf War and those serving in more recent conflicts (post-Gulf War veterans).
Since a previous report of surveillance findings in 2004, an improved methodology for determination of the isotopic ratio of U in urine ((235)U:(238)U) has been developed and allows for more definitive evaluation of DU exposure. This report updates previous findings.
Veterans provide a 24-hr urine specimen and complete a DU exposure questionnaire. Specimens are sent to the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center for processing. Uranium concentration and isotopic ratio are measured using ICP-MS at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
Between January 2003 and June 2008, we received 1,769 urine specimens for U analysis. The mean urine U measure was 0.009 microg U/g creatinine. Mean urine U concentrations for Gulf War and post-Gulf War veterans were 0.008 and 0.009 microg U/g creatinine, respectively. Only 3 of the 1,700 (0.01%) specimens for which we completed isotopic determination showed evidence of DU. Exposure histories confirmed that these three individuals had been involved in "friendly fire" incidents involving DU munitions or armored vehicles.
No urine U measure with a "depleted" isotopic signature has been detected in U.S. veterans without a history of retained DU embedded fragments from previous injury. These findings suggest that future DU-related health harm is unlikely in veterans without DU fragments.
作为针对接触贫铀（DU）的美国退伍军人的一项正在进行的医学监测项目的一部分，向任何海湾战争退伍军人以及在最近冲突中服役的人员（海湾战争后退伍军人）提供尿液铀（U）浓度的生物监测。
自2004年上次监测结果报告以来，已开发出一种改进的方法来测定尿液中U的同位素比（（235）U:（238）U），这使得对DU暴露的评估更具确定性。本报告更新了先前的发现。
退伍军人提供一份24小时尿液样本并完成一份DU暴露问卷。样本被送往巴尔的摩退伍军人事务医疗中心进行处理。使用武装部队病理研究所的电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测量铀浓度和同位素比。
在2003年1月至2008年6月期间，我们收到了1769份用于U分析的尿液样本。尿液U的平均测量值为0.009微克U/克肌酐。海湾战争退伍军人和海湾战争后退伍军人的尿液U平均浓度分别为0.008和0.009微克U/克肌酐。在我们完成同位素测定的1700份样本中，只有3份（0.01%）显示有DU的证据。暴露史证实这三个人曾参与涉及DU弹药或装甲车的“友军火力”事件。
在没有因先前受伤而残留DU嵌入碎片病史的美国退伍军人中，未检测到具有“贫化”同位素特征的尿液U测量值。这些发现表明，没有DU碎片的退伍军人未来不太可能受到与DU相关的健康损害。
