[ RadSafe ] Wikipedia References on Depleted Uranium - Accurate or Not?

Sat Apr 24 20:16:22 CDT 2010

Given that this Health Physics article "Modeling of the dispersion of
depleted uranium aerosol" is from April 2003 and the abstract starts out "is
a low cost radioactive material" - how accurate is the rest of this?

Thanks.

Roger Helbig

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium

The use of DU in munitions <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munitions>  is
controversial because of questions about potential long-term health effects.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-MillerMcClain-3>
[4] Normal functioning of the kidney <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney> ,
brain <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain> , liver
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver> , heart
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart> , and numerous other systems can be
affected by uranium exposure, because in addition to being weakly
radioactive, uranium is a toxic metal
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_metal> .
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-Craft04-4> [5] It
is weakly radioactive and remains so because of its long half-life
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life>  (4.468 billion years for
uranium-238 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-238> ). The aerosol
produced during impact and combustion of depleted uranium munitions can
potentially contaminate wide areas around the impact sites or can be inhaled
by civilians and military personnel.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-ncbi.nlm.nih.gov-5>
[6] During a three week period of conflict in 2003 in Iraq
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq> , 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes of DU munitions
were used, mostly in cities.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-gaurdian2003-6> [7]

6. ^
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-ncbi.nlm.nih.gov_5-0
> a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-ncbi.nlm.nih.gov_5-1
> b Mitsakou C, Eleftheriadis K, Housiadas C, Lazaridis M Modeling of the
dispersion <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12705453>  of depleted
uranium aerosol. 2003 Apr, Retrieved January 15, 2009

Health Phys. <javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Health%20Phys.');>  2003
Apr;84(4):538-44.

Modeling of the dispersion of depleted uranium aerosol.

Mitsakou
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Mitsakou%20C%22%5BAuthor%5D>  C,
Eleftheriadis
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Eleftheriadis%20K%22%5BAuthor%5D
>  K, Housiadas
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Housiadas%20C%22%5BAuthor%5D>
C, Lazaridis
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Lazaridis%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D>
M.

Institute of Nuclear Technology-Radiation Protection, N.C.S.R. Demokritos,
15310 Ag. Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece.

Abstract

Depleted uranium is a low-cost radioactive material that, in addition to
other applications, is used by the military in kinetic energy weapons
against armored vehicles. During the Gulf and Balkan conflicts concern has
been raised about the potential health hazards arising from the toxic and
radioactive material released. The aerosol produced during impact and
combustion of depleted uranium munitions can potentially contaminate wide
areas around the impact sites or can be inhaled by civilians and military
personnel. Attempts to estimate the extent and magnitude of the dispersion
were until now performed by complex modeling tools employing unclear
assumptions and input parameters of high uncertainty. An analytical puff
model accommodating diffusion with simultaneous deposition is developed,
which can provide a reasonable estimation of the dispersion of the released
depleted uranium aerosol. Furthermore, the period of the exposure for a
given point downwind from the release can be estimated (as opposed to when
using a plume model). The main result is that the depleted uranium mass is
deposited very close to the release point. The deposition flux at a couple
of kilometers from the release point is more than one order of magnitude
lower than the one a few meters near the release point. The effects due to
uncertainties in the key input variables are addressed. The most influential
parameters are found to be atmospheric stability, height of release, and
wind speed, whereas aerosol size distribution is less significant. The
output from the analytical model developed was tested against the numerical
model RPM-AERO. Results display satisfactory agreement between the two
models.

The next Wikipedia paragraph says

The actual acute and chronic toxicity of DU is also a point of medical
controversy. Multiple studies using cultured cells and laboratory rodents
suggest the possibility of leukemogenic
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukemia> , genetic
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene> , reproductive
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproduction> , and neurological
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurological>  effects from chronic exposure.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-MillerMcClain-3>
[4] A 2005 epidemiology <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiology>  review
concluded: "In aggregate the human epidemiological evidence is consistent
with increased risk of birth defects in offspring of persons exposed to DU."
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-Hindin-7> [8] The
World Health Organization
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization>  states that no
consistent risk of reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects have
been reported in humans.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-8> [9]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-9> [10] However,
the objectivity of this report has been called into question.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_note-10> [11]

4.  ^
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-MillerMcClain_3-0> a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-MillerMcClain_3-1> b
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-MillerMcClain_3-2> c
Miller AC, McClain D. (2007 Jan-Mar). "A review of depleted uranium
biological effects: in vitro and in vivo studies". Rev Environ Health 22
(1): 75-89. PMID <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PubMed_Identifier>  17508699
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17508699> .

Rev Environ Health.
<javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Rev%20Environ%20Health.');>  2007
Jan-Mar;22(1):75-89.

A review of depleted uranium biological effects: in vitro and in vivo
studies.

Miller
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Miller%20AC%22%5BAuthor%5D>  AC,
McClain
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22McClain%20D%22%5BAuthor%5D>  D.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Armed Forces
Radiobiology Research Institute, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Building 42,
Bethesda, MD 20889-5603, USA. millera at afrri.usuhs.mil

Abstract

The use of depleted uranium in armor-penetrating munitions remains a source
of controversy because of the numerous unanswered questions about its
long-term health effects. Although no conclusive epidemiologic data have
correlated DU exposure to specific health effects, studies using cultured
cells and laboratory rodents continue to suggest the possibility of
leukemogenic, genetic, reproductive, and neurological effects from chronic
exposure. Until issues of concern are resolved with further research, the
use of depleted uranium by the military will continue to be controversial.

8.  ^  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-Hindin_7-0> a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-Hindin_7-1> b
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-Hindin_7-2> c
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#cite_ref-Hindin_7-3> d
Hindin, R. et al. (2005).
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242351/> "Teratogenicity of
depleted uranium aerosols: A review from an epidemiological perspective".
Environmental Health 4: 17. PMID
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PubMed_Identifier>  1242351
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1242351> .
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242351/.

The heavily Traprock influenced report by Hindin who no longer works in the
field of epidemiology and is associated with a food cooperative in New
Jersey continues to be referenced - this report should be shown to have no
scientific significance given Hindin's lack of objectivity.

In the report, the principal researcher Rita Hindin says 

"Sunny Miller, executive director of Traprock Peace Center of Deerfield, MA
hosted a presentation by Damacio Lopez (director of IDUST, International
Depleted Uranium Study Team) http://www.idust.net/#HISTORY  which Rita
Hindin attended and that eventually led to the writing of this paper.  Our
appreciation.  Thanks to Dan Bishop (of IDUST) and Tom Fasy (Mt. Sinai
Medical Center, NYC) for their assistance early on explicating DU
toxicology, and to the Uranium Weapons Study Team (of Traprock Peace Center)
for thoughtful conversations and support to explore leads and deepen
understanding of DU.  Thanks to the conveners and attendees of the World
Uranium Weapons Conference Hamburg Germany, October 16 - 19, 2003.  Of
greatest importance, Rita's attendance afforded her the opportunity to share
thoughtful conversation with and learn from Iraqi researchers, Drs. Jennan
Hassan, Jawad Al-Ali and Souad Al-Azzawi.  We offer deep thanks,
appreciation and respect for the information they shared, and for work that
they and their colleagues are doing.  We deeply appreciate the reporters and
activists who have managed, against great odds, to report bits of
information out of Iraq and who, as responsible, thoughtful citizens of many
countries, assert their dignity and demand appropriate response to the
challenges posed by DU aerosols.  Rita also had the opportunity to speak
with and learn from Drs. Chris Busby and Michel Fernex at the Hamburg
conference. Their contributions to this paper stem from their long-term,
on-going, related research as well as, more particularly, to the helpful and
thoughtful comments they gave as peer reviewers of the submitted manuscript.
Thanks to Tova Neugut for insightful conversations and for reading many
early drafts of the manuscript.  Jaime DeLemos helped us figure out the
chemistry of depleted uranium."