Uranium concentration in blood samples of Southern Iraqi leukemia patients using CR-39 track detector

Abstract

The simple and effective technique of fission track etch has been applied to determine trace concentration of uranium in human blood samples taken from two groups of male and female participants: leukemia patients and healthy subjects group. The blood samples of leukemia patients and healthy subjects were collected from three key southern governorates namely, Basrah, Muthanna and Dhi-Qar. These governorates were the centers of intensive military activities during the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars, and the discarded weapons are still lying around in these regions. CR-39 track detector was used for registration of induced fission tracks. The results show that the highest recorded uranium concentration in the blood samples of leukemia patients was 4.71 ppb (female, 45 years old, from Basrah) and the minimum concentration was 1.91 ppb (male, 3 years old, from Muthanna). For healthy group, the maximum uranium concentration was 2.15 ppb (female, 55 years old, from Basrah) and the minimum concentration was 0.86 ppb (male, 5 years old, from Dhi-Qar). It has been found that the uranium concentrations in human blood samples of leukemia patients are higher than those of the healthy group. These uranium concentrations in the leukemia patients group were significantly different (P < 0.001) from those in the healthy group.

Concentration of uranium in human cancerous tissues of Southern Iraqi patients using fission track analysis

“…The average uranium content in human soft tissues in this study is higher than published values with other researchers [31][32][33]. The cause behind such results can be attributed to the high levels of uranium contamination in the region of southern Iraq as a result of military activities during the Gulf Wars which led to the exposure of individuals to high levels of radioactive pollution [1,2]. From Table 2, it was found that observed uranium concentrations in kidney were widely scattered and the average uranium concentration (6.51 lg kg -1 ) for abnormal tissues and (4.11 lg kg -1 ) for normal tissues was higher than those in the other abnormal and normal soft tissues, because the kidney is one of the principle sites of uranium deposition in the body [34].…”

“…After the irradiation, the CR-39 detectors were etched under controlled conditions in NaOH etchant solution as reported elsewhere [1][2][3]. The fission tracks density was recorded using the optical microscope at a magnification of 4009.…”

“…Uranium is naturally occurring radioactive and toxic element, uranium and its compounds are one of the most serious contamination concerns because of its radioactivity and heavy-metal toxicity, which is a threat to human and environmental balance [1][2][3][4]. Uranium can enter into the human body mainly through inhalation of dust particles uranium-bearing or ingestion of food and drinking water which is contaminated by uranium [5].…”

“…Fission track analysis technique (FTA) with solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) CR-39 is normally used to determine the trace concentration of uranium in biological samples [1][2][3]27]. Fission track analysis technique is quick and accurate with a detection limit of 0.01-0.1 lg kg -1 for uranium determination [28].…”

Depleted Uranium and Its Effects on Humans

“…Another study showed, for example, increased incidences of various types of cancer and birth defects among civilians living in those affected areas [60][61][62][63][64][65][66]. These studies suggest that DU exposure is either a primary cause or related to the main cause of congenital anomalies and increased rates of cancer.…”