Population monitoring: experience with residents exposed to uranium mining/milling waste

Au, William W.; McConnell, Marc A.; Wilkinson, Gregg S.; Ramanujam, V. M. Sadagopa; Alcock, Nancy W.

doi:10.1016/s0027-5107(98)00141-9

Cited by 32 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A cytogenetic analysis showed a greater frequency of chromosomal aberrations and an abnormal DNA-repair response for a population residing near mines/uranium processing plants versus an unexposed population, though this was based on a small study (24,25).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solid-tumor mortality in the vicinity of uranium cycle facilities and nuclear power plants in Spain.

López‐Abente

Aragonés

Pollán

2001

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To ascertain solid tumor mortality in towns near Spain's four nuclear power plants and four nuclear fuel facilities from 1975 to 1993, we conducted a mortality study based on 12,245 cancer deaths in 283 towns situated within a 30-km radius of the above installations. As nonexposed areas, we used 275 towns lying within a 50- to 100-km radius of each installation, matched by population size and sociodemographic characteristics (income level, proportion of active population engaged in farming, proportion of unemployed, percentage of illiteracy, and province). Using log-linear models, we examined relative risk for each area and trends in risk with increasing proximity to an installation. The results reveal a pattern of solid-tumor mortality in the vicinity of uranium cycle facilities, basically characterized by excess lung [relative risk (RR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.25] and renal cancer mortality (RR 1.37, 95% CI, 1.07-1.76). Besides the effects of natural radiation, these results could well be evincing the influence on public health exerted by the environmental impact of mining. No such well-defined pattern appeared in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. Monitoring of cancer incidence and mortality is recommended in areas surrounding nuclear fuel facilities and nuclear power plants, and more specific studies are called for in areas adjacent to installations that have been fully operational for longer periods. In this regard, it is important to use dosimetric information in all future studies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solid-tumor mortality in the vicinity of uranium cycle facilities and nuclear power plants in Spain.

López‐Abente

Aragonés

Pollán

2001

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The frequency of CAs was increased in studies analyzing the effect of high arsenic levels in drinking water (83,84) and of uranium mining waste in residents using a challenge assay (80). No increase was related to PAH exposure in bus drivers (59) or mothers and newborns (66).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Epidemiology Studies on Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Mutagens and Carcinogens, 1997-1999

Srám¹,

Binková²

2000

Environmental Health Perspectives

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Molecular epidemiology is a new and evolving area of research, combining laboratory measurement of internal dose, biologically effective dose, biologic effects, and influence of individual susceptibility with epidemiologic methodologies. Biomarkers evaluated were selected according to basic scheme: biomarkers of exposure-metabolites in urine, DNA adducts, protein adducts, and Comet assay parameters; biomarkers of effect-chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei, mutations in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene, and the activation of oncogenes coding for p53 or p21 proteins as measured on protein levels; biomarkers of susceptibility-genetic polymorphisms of genes CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2. DNA adducts measured by 32P-postlabeling are the biomarker of choice for the evaluation of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Protein adducts are useful as a biomarker for exposure to tobacco smoke (4-aminobiphenyl) or to smaller molecules such as acrylonitrile or 1,3-butadiene. Of the biomarkers of effect, the most common are cytogenetic end points. Epidemiologic studies support the use of chromosomal breakage as a relevant biomarker of cancer risk. The use of the Comet assay and methods analyzing oxidative DNA damage needs reliable validation for human biomonitoring. Until now there have not been sufficient data to interpret the relationship between genotypes, biomarkers of exposure, and biomarkers of effect for assessing the risk of human exposure to mutagens and carcinogens. Key words: air pollution, benzene, biomarkers, coke oven, genotypes, occupational exposure, PAHs, pesticides, tobacco smoke. -Envwron Health Perspect 1 08(suppl 1):57-70 (2000). http.//ehpnetl. niehs. nih.gov/docs/2000/suppl-1/57-70sram/abstract. html A new and evolving area of research termed molecular epidemiology attempts to merge sophisticated and highly sensitive laboratory methods (many of them developed during the recent revolution in molecular biology) with analytical epidemiologic methods. Molecular epidemiology bridges basic research in molecular biology and studies of human cancer causation by combining laboratory measurement of internal dose, biologically effective dose, biologic effects, and the influence of individual susceptibility with epidemiologic methodologies (1). The most common view is that the approach represents a natural convergence of molecular biology and epidemiology (2).The number of biomarkers available for evaluating genetic and cancer risk in humans is quite large. Their utility-for human biomonitoring is suggested by the well-known paradigm of environmentally induced cancer, which represents end points for assessing the entire spectrum of human-genotoxicant interactions (3). These biomarkers begin with exposure and include absorption, metabolism, distribution, critical target interaction (i.e., DNA damage and repair), genetic changes, and finally, disease, which is the province of traditional epidemiology. The development of biomarkers has given rise to the field of ...

show abstract

“…Au et al (1995Au et al ( , 1998 investigated whether residents residing near uranium mining operations, who were potentially exposed to toxicants from mining waste, had increased genotoxic effects when compared with people residing elsewhere. The authors found that uranium concentrations in soil samples were significantly higher in the target area than those in the control areas.…”

Section: The Uptake Of Uranium and Its Distribution In Different Tissmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors found that uranium concentrations in soil samples were significantly higher in the target area than those in the control areas. Thus, the mine tailings have health issue and environmental concern, such as lung cancer, leukemia, stomach cancer and birth defects, to the whole population in the area surrounding the mine (Au et al, 1998).…”

Section: The Uptake Of Uranium and Its Distribution In Different Tissmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

An investigation of the bioaccumulation of chromium and uranium metals by Cynodon dactylon: A case study of abandoned New Union Gold Mine Tailings, Limpopo, South Africa

Nelushi¹,

Gumbo²,

Dacosta³

2013

Afr. J. Biotechnol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mine waste, including tailings is generally outlined as one of the largest environmental concern which faces defunct mines in South Africa and New Union Gold Mine is no exception. These tailing contain heavy metal such as chromium (Cr) and uranium (U) which poses enormous threat to the environment even at small quantity. The study focuses mainly on bioaccumulation of Cr and U in soil by Cynodon dactylon, an indigenous grass. The grass and soil sample were collected at New Union Gold Mine and Ka-Madonsi Village at Malamulele, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The concentration of Cr and U were determined with a Thermofischer ICP MS. The research findings indicate that the range in the levels of Cr and U at mine tailings dam A were 152.60 to 196.12 mg/kg and 0.51 to 0.92 µg/gm, respectively. The ranges in the levels of Cr and U at mine tailings dam B were 151.34 to 229.67 mg/kg and 0.85 to 1.06 µg/g, respectively. The levels of Cr and U at the control site were 81.31 mg/kg and 0.73 µg/g. The pH of mine tailing dam A was 3.23 to 3.34 and for tailing dam B were, 3.25 to 3.29 making both tailing acidic while for the control site, it was slightly alkaline at 7.56. The bioconcentration and translation factors of C. dactylon were variable but were dependent on pH conditions. Thus, C. dactylon was able to bioaccumulate toxic metals Cr and U from the mine tailings making them potential phytoremediation agent for the rehabilitation of exposed mine tailings. This is important in covering the mine tailings since any exposed part of mine tailings is liable to water and wind erosion. Thus, Cr and U may be exported to external environment such as aquatic ecosystem and neighboring rural communities with negative impacts.

show abstract

Population monitoring: experience with residents exposed to uranium mining/milling waste

Cited by 32 publications

References 27 publications

Solid-tumor mortality in the vicinity of uranium cycle facilities and nuclear power plants in Spain.

Solid-tumor mortality in the vicinity of uranium cycle facilities and nuclear power plants in Spain.

Molecular Epidemiology Studies on Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Mutagens and Carcinogens, 1997-1999

An investigation of the bioaccumulation of chromium and uranium metals by Cynodon dactylon: A case study of abandoned New Union Gold Mine Tailings, Limpopo, South Africa

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About