[ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

Wed Nov 9 11:52:41 CST 2011

If you look at the subject line, you will see that the discussion is
about whether DU is or is not toxicologically identical to non DU.  I
contend, on a by mass or per atom basis (which I carefully stated from
the beginning) that the answer is clearly "no".  Even if you include the
photoelectron effect, the answer remains clearly "no".  I contend that
the by mass or per atom basis is the best way to do a comparison, but I
allow that there is room for discussion.  

You choose to use a per-unit-of-activity basis, which I contend is not
as good for comparison, because activity in something like uranium is
dependent on the isotopic mix under discussion.  If you wish to assume
DU is pure U238, fine, though we all know that is not actually the case
(and indeed, you tried to pull a fast one by bringing in Th234 and
Pa234).  However, I reject the notion that "non DU" is pure U235, and
instead contend that the reasonable choice for "non-DU" is natural
uranium, or U(nat), while acknowledging that U(nat) has an activity that
is harder to pin down.  I contend that U(nat) is the most appropriate
thing to compare DU to because this began as a discussion as to whether
health effects in Fallujah could be attributed to the use of DU weapons
(though there is sound reason to believe few or none were used there).
We should be able to agree that whether or not DU was used, the people
were exposed to the U(nat) in their environment.  And U(nat) is mostly
U238, so one would expect the toxicology to be much the same as for DU,
especially if one used the better units for comparison.  But even with
your "DU is more toxic because there are more atoms per unit of
activity" comparison, you haven't provided any reason to believe the
differential photoelectron rates would be significant.   

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Busby, Chris
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 12:20 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

You have changed the argument, but yes, it is significant since the U is
on the DNA whereas the "dose from all sources" is not on the DNA.
Goodhead has argued (and so has Gofman and so have I) that at 1mSv a
year external each cell gets only one track. You can work it out
yourself. Thats the "dose from all sources" and there is time to repair
damage. This is not the case for a U atom bound to DNA which has an
increased gamma cross section and therefore greater photoelectron (like
beta particles) production. 
I have not changed my argument which was about photoelectron enhancement
due to high Z elements, which it is now clear you now understand. 
Thats all that needs to be said.
Cheers
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu on behalf of Brennan, Mike
(DOH)
Sent: Mon 07/11/2011 17:17
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

But we are not discussing pure U235: we are discussing the difference
between DU and non-depleted uranium, U(nat) being the obvious choice, as
the that is what people are exposed to (while acknowledging that the
isotopic mix in U(nat) varies within a range).  The specific activity of
U238 is a little less than half that of U(nat), which means that for a
given unit of activity there would be about twice the number of U238
atoms than U(nat) atoms.  You are now in the position of arguing that
twice the photoelectron dose is significant against the background of
all dose from all sources.

I do not accept your attempted sleight of hand in trying to use U235 as
the comparison, as no one, not even you, has claimed that pure U235 has
been used in weapons (other than atomic weapons, and I hope we are in
agreement that none of those were used in Iraq without anyone noticing).
As I have pointed out on several occasions, U(nat) and even most forms
of enriched uranium are mostly U238.  

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Busby, Chris
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 12:06 PM
To: Witold Matysiak; The International Radiation Protection (Health
Physics) Mailing List
Cc: C.Busby at ulster.ac.uk
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

You are missing the point. There are more atoms of U238 per unit dose
than atoms of U235. So comparison on a dose basis (which was what
started this discussion)is not the point. Both have the same
photoelectron emission buthete will be more photoelectrons because there
is more U238 for teh same dose.
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Witold Matysiak [mailto:matysiw at mcmaster.ca]
Sent: Thu 03/11/2011 16:39
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Cc: C.Busby at ulster.ac.uk
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 6:00 PM, Busby, Chris <C.Busby at ulster.ac.uk>
wrote:
"Uranium absorbs natural background gamma radiation on the basis of its
high atomic number, the photoelectron flux at the position of the
uranium is greater, dose for dose, U238 that U235 since there"

I may be missing the point here, but U238 and U235 have the same atomic
numbers so based on the standard theory photoelectric cross-sections are
equal for both.
What effects related with mass number should be included in PE
X-section?

On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 6:00 PM, Busby, Chris <C.Busby at ulster.ac.uk>
wrote:

> There is such a way. Since U238 is slightly less intrinsically
radioactive
> than U235, the quantity of U238 per Becquerel is greater, so for the
same
> implicit activity (alpha decay of the parent nuclide) there are more
atoms
> of Uranium in the same calculated dose from teh U.  Since Uranium
absorbs
> natural background gamma radiation on the basis of its high atomic
number,
> the photoelectron flux at the position of the uranium is greater, dose
for
> dose, U238 that U235 since there are more atoms.
> Furthemore, you havent taken into consideration the daughter nuclides,
the
> betas from Pa234m and Th234, two betas before U234. In the case of
U235
> there is only Th231, one beta. Therefore the total dose, U238 + two
fast
> daughters is greater than U235 +1 fast daughter.
> Hows that?
> I mean its no big deal, but you do have to be careful here.
> Chris
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu on behalf of Brennan, Mike
(DOH)
> Sent: Mon 31/10/2011 18:30
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics)
MailingList
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U
>
> James,
>
> While I can see an argument that DU is LESS toxic, radiologically,
than
> uranium that has not had the shortest half-life, and thus highest 
> specific activity, isotopes removed, I assume that is not what you
wish
> to imply.  If you have an argument for how something with a lower 
> activity (by weight or per atom) is more toxic, I would be interested.
> If you are saying that the chemical properties of U238 are
sufficiently
> different from those of U235 and U234 as to be detectable in the way 
> organisms are affected, I would like to see the model and the
evidence.
>
>
> I do, however, see a problem with you citing evidence, as your record
of
> citing relevant items that actually support your position is not good.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of James
Salsman
> Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 10:35 AM
> To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U
>
> Mark Sonter wrote:
>
> > DU *must* be toxicologically identical to non D-U.
>
> That is not consistent with the translocation graph shown in the 
> Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry, 8th Edition, English 
> translation (Springer-Verlag, 1982), Title U -- Uranium, Supplemental 
> Volume A7 -- Biology, Section 3 -- Metabolism: Absorption, page 305, 
> Figure 3-1, "Retention and translocation of inhaled uranyl nitrate,"
> from J.E. Ballou, R.A. Gies, and N.A. Wagman in BNWL-2500, Part 1, pp.
> 379-380 (1978.)
>
> If I owe Bob Cherry an apology for not knowing about genotoxicity when

> he made statements to federal officials on the health aspects of 
> uranium fume inhalation, or for getting his title wrong, then I 
> apologize.  I remain of the opinion that a more appropriate title 
> would involve a Quantico detainee number for decades followed by 
> "Defendant" in a medical expense loss recovery class action suit, and 
> I appreciate all the work the military does to defend my right to 
> express such opinions.
>
> Sincerely,
> James Salsman
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