Note: These are some examples of the toxic effects of uranium that have been scientifically demonstrated. The references are given, along with the institutions where the studies were performed, in case readers are interested in seeking further information.

Cancers

Uranium miners experience about 10 times as much lung cancer as the general population, which is attributed to the presence of radon gas in mines, but uranium dust may also contribute.
[National Cancer Institute, Bethesda] J.K. Wagoner, et al., J. Nat. Cancer Inst., 32, 787-801, 1964.

D. Brugge and R. Goble, Am. J. Pub. Health, 92 (9), 1410-1419, 2002.
 

DU can cause cultured human cells to be transformed into cancerous cells.
[Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD]
A.C. Miller et al., Environ. Health Perspectives, 106, 465-471, 1998.
 

Uranium causes DNA strand breakage. (This leads to genetic instability, which can cause cancer)
M. Yazzie et al, Chem. Res. Toxicol., 16, 524-530, 2003. [N. Arizona Univ.]
 

DU induces free radical mutations of DNA bases. (This can lead to cancer and birth defects)
[Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD]
A.C. Miller et al., J. Inorg. Biochem., 91, 246-252, 2002.
 

Implanted DU metal fragments cause soft tissue sarcomas (cancer) in rats.
[Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM]
F.F. Hahn et al., Environ. Health Perspectives, 110, 51-59, 2002.
 

DU causes genomic instability in human osteoblast cells, resulting in lethal mutations and chromosomal instability. (This can lead to cancer)
[Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD]
See: A.C. Miller et al., J. Environ. Radioactivity, 64, 247-259, 2003.
 

Cell Death (Cytotoxicity)

DU induces apoptosis (cell death) in mouse macrophages, i.e., immune cells responsible for clearing DU from the body are destroyed by the DU.
[Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD]
J.F. Kalinich et al., Toxicology, 179, 105-114, 2002.
 

Neurological Effects of Uranium

DU impaires movement and coordination performance in rats.
[Duke University Medical Center]
M.B. Abou-Donia et al., Pharmacol. Biochem. Behavior, 72, 881-890, 2002.

DU metal fragments implanted in rats caused changes in brain electrophysiology.
[Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD]
T.C. Pellmar et al., Neurotoxicology, 20, 785-792, 1999.
 

Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Uranium

Uranium treatment of male mice resulted in a decrease in pregnancy rate when mated with untreated females. Effect may be due to behavioral changes.
[University of Barcelona, Spain] J.M. Llobet et al., Fundam. Appl. Toxicol., 16, 821-829, 1991.

Uranium in the diet for 16 weeks caused decreased testes weight, testicular lesions, necrosis of spermatocytes (death of sperm cells).
A.F. Malenchenko et al., J. Hyg. Epidemiol. Microbiol. Immunol., 22, 268-277, 1978.

Uranium given to preganant mice resulted in reduced ossification (bone formation) of skull and bones and skeletal deformations.
[University of Barcelona, Spain] J.L. Domingo et al., Toxicology, 55, 143-152, 1989.
 

Adverse Health Effects Associated with Gulf War Syndrome*

• Reactive airway disease, respiratory problems, lung cancer
• Kidney failure, chronic kidney pain and kidney stones
• Neurological abnormalities - short and long term memory deficit, neuropsychological disorders
• Immune dysfunction - supression of immune system
• Vision degradation and night vision loss
• Skin rashes and skin cancer
• Wide range of cancers - lymphoma, leukemia, lung, liver, breast, gastrointestinal
• Sexual dysfunction and cancer of sex organs - testicles, ovaries and uterus
• Birth defects in offspring due to chromosomal damage in gametes (sperm and egg)

CONCLUSIONS REGARDING DU TOXICITY

Uranium, including DU, is a chemical toxin known to cause chromosomal abnormalities, genetic mutations, damage to renal tubules (kidney), neurological impairment, transformation of human cells to cancerous phenotypes, reproductive impairment, and developmental abnormalities. [The evidence for these toxic effects was presented in the references listed above].

These known chemical toxicity effects of uranium could account for the majority of symptoms associated with Gulf War Syndrome in veterans and the large number of cancers and birth defects observed in southern Iraq since 1991. This does not "prove" that DU causes Gulf War Syndrome, cancers and birth defects, but certainly implicates DU as a toxic substance if people are exposed to significant levels of DU dust that would be present in and around a field of battle where DU weapons are used. The DU dust from burning DU could remain in the area for many years.

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