Research

Uranium mining and processing are associated with a wide range of potential adverse human health risks. Some of these risks arise out of aspects of uranium mining and processing specific to that enterprise, whereas other risks apply to the mining sector generally and still others are linked more broadly to large-scale industrial or construction activities. These health risks typically are most relevant to individuals occupationally exposed in this industry but certain exposures and their associated risks can extend via environmental pathways to the general population.

Uranium contamination is a global health concern. Regarding natural or anthropogenic uranium contamination, the major sources of concern are groundwater, mining, phosphate fertilizers, nuclear facilities, and military activities. Many epidemiological and laboratory studies have demonstrated that environmental and occupational uranium exposure can induce multifarious health problems.

Uranium is a metal that exists naturally in the earth. There are small amounts of uranium in almost all the soil, rock, and water in the world. It can move through the environment in rain, wind, and other natural processes. People have used uranium for building military shielding, weapons, planes and helicopters. It’s also used to fuel nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants.

The radioactive contamination is a significant factor affecting the environment and human health. Radon and its decay products are the major contributors to human exposure from natural radiation sources. World Health Organization has identified the chronic residential exposure to radon and its decay products as the second cause of lung cancer after tobacco consumption and also as the main risk-factor in never smokers. The high levels of radon are observed in the North and East areas of Kazakhstan because of the natural radiation sources and the long-term and large-scale mining of uranium. The genotoxic effects of radon on population of Kazakhstan are poorly understood, in spite of the fact that many regions of the country contain the high levels of radon. Studies elucidating potential health risk among population exposed to radon and genotoxic effect of radon in Kazakhstan are very limited or they have never been addressed in some areas. In this review, we are presenting available data on the residential radon exposure of humans in uranium mining and milling areas in the North and East areas of Kazakhstan.

Uranium contamination has become a nonnegligible global health problem. Inhalation of particulate uranium is one of the predominant routes of occupational and environmental exposure. Uranium particle is a complex two-phase flow of matter that is both particulate and flowable. This particular physicochemical property may alter its biological activity. Epidemiological studies from occupationally exposed populations in the uranium industry have concluded that there is a possible association between lung cancer risk and uranium exposure, while the evidence for the risk of other tumors is not sufficient. The toxicological effects of particulate uranium exposure to animals have been shown in laboratory tests to focus on respiratory and central nervous system damage. Fibrosis and tumors can occur in the lung tissue of the respiratory tract. Uranium particles can also induce a concentration-dependent increase in cytotoxicity, targeting mitochondria. The understanding of the health risks and potential toxicological mechanisms of particulate uranium contamination is still at a preliminary stage. The diversity of particle parameters has limited the in-depth exploration. This review summarizes the current evidence on the toxicology of particulate uranium and highlights the knowledge gaps and research prospects.

It is important to note that any health effects would be due to the total amount of uranium present. Health effects would also be related to the amount of time a person is exposed. It is unlikely that a person will have long-term health effects after a single exposure to DU.

The Metal Exposures & Depleted Uranium (MEDU) Surveillance Center has monitored the health of Veterans at highest risk, those exposed to DU from ‘friendly fire’ events, for over 30 years.

This study aimed to explore the association between plasma levels of three non-essential metals -barium (Ba), tungsten (W), and uranium (U) – and schizophrenia risk among Chinese individuals.

Radiological and heavy-metal contamination go hand-in-hand with uranium development. Since the practice began in the United States, when Colorado gold miners first struck uranium back in 1871, uranium mining has developed an unfortunate legacy of imperiling endangered species, causing egregious human-health impacts, and contaminating — often permanently — public lands and precious water.

You’d think the Grand Canyon — the homeland of at least 11 Native American tribes and the crown jewel of our national park system — would be protected from uranium contamination. Think again.

Uranium mines and mining claims outside park boundaries threaten to pollute the most remarkable gorge in the world. We’re working alongside many partners in support of regional tribes to permanently protect lands and waters surrounding Grand Canyon National Park from mining.

One (1) subject with acute inflammation and pain of the left knee was recruited to participate in this
project. Two thermal images were taken. A thermal image was taken before application of the
Biophotonic Light and another one 10 minutes after. The VAS pain scale was used to determine her
level of paint.