Does uranium induce circulatory diseases? First results from a French cohort of uranium workers

Abstract

The authors observed that exposure to slowly soluble uranium, namely RPU, may increase the risk of CSD mortality. However, these results are preliminary since the study is lacking statistical power and many other biological and lifestyle-related factors may cause CSD. More detailed investigations are necessary to confirm these findings and analyse in depth the effects of internal radiation exposure on the circulatory system.

Mortality (1968–2008) in a French cohort of uranium enrichment workers potentially exposed to rapidly soluble uranium compounds

“…The JEM was used to assign annual (1964–2008) levels of frequency and intensity of exposure on a four-level scale for each hazard. A multiplicative product of frequency, intensity and duration of employment (years) allowed deriving an individual exposure score which was used for epidemiological analyses 20. Exposure to soluble uranium compounds (UF 6 and UO 2 F 2 ) was defined as exposure to type F (rapidly soluble) uranium compounds according to the classification of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 21.…”

Circulatory disease in French nuclear fuel cycle workers chronically exposed to uranium: a nested case–control study

“…We conducted a case–control study of CSD nested in the previously described AREVA NC Pierrelatte workers cohort 14. This cohort was set up in 2005 as a pilot study of French nuclear workers with potential for internal exposure to various uranium compounds 14.…”

“…This cohort was set up in 2005 as a pilot study of French nuclear workers with potential for internal exposure to various uranium compounds 14. The AREVA NC Pierrelatte plant was built in 1960 and enriched uranium until 1996.…”

“…Uranium chemical transformations and associated logistic operations were also carried out. The cohort included 2897 male and female workers employed at the plant for at least 6 months between 1960 and 2005 14. Workers with employment history at uranium mines were excluded due to their predominant exposure to radon gas and radon decay products.…”

“…A previous cohort study of French AREVA NC Pierrelatte uranium workers has shown an increased mortality risk due to CSD 14. That analysis considered proxy of uranium exposure (exposure score from job exposure matrix (JEM)) and did not have data on lifestyle risk factors, with the exception of smoking data for a subset of the cohort.…”