[ RadSafe ] Uranium in hair analysis

[Cowie, Michael I]

I am aware of PhD research being done in this area at the University of Reading in the UK. This is being funded by security services..............the idea is to identify geographical locations people hail from.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Bair, William
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 8:41 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Uranium in hair analysis

From the Health Physics Society webpage 2008:

Analysis of uranium in hair is not an accepted nor reliable method of determining the uranium content in the body. Uranium is a heavy metal and is excreted in the hair and nails, but hair analysis for uranium is subject to inordinately high erroneous results from uranium contamination of the hair from shampoos, soaps, hair dressings, dyes, and hair treatments of various types. Moreover, since uranium is ubiquitous throughout the environment, the hair sample must be carefully obtained, handled, packaged, and shipped under rigid controls to ensure that it is not contaminated by coming into contact with materials containing environmental uranium which could be transferred to the hair sample. Erroneously high results can also occur if analytical procedures are not rigidly controlled and performed with scrupulous care. Controls include appropriate washing of the sample to remove possible surface uranium and use of special certified ultra-pure reagents. Labware must likewise be fre  e of uranium; uranium may leach from glassware and contaminate the sample, leading to erroneously high readings. Since the hair samples are so small, even a tiny amount of uranium contamination may give a grossly exaggerated and erroneous result.

There are few, if any, data in the peer-reviewed scientific literature relating to what normal levels of uranium in hair are, or how these levels relate to uranium intake, amount in the body, and the amount excreted in the hair. Thus, there is a paucity of data regarding the uranium content of hair and what constitutes the "normal" range. There are no generally recognized established standards for uranium in hair. Background levels of uranium in hair are highly variable from person to person and region to region, depending in large measure on dietary factors as most of the uranium in our bodies comes from the food that we eat.

Ron Kathren, CHP

Bill Bair, Sr. Scientist
Radiological Engineering
NSTec, LLC
Contractor to the US Department of Energy
(702)295-4463 (W)
(702)630-0631 (C)
(702)295-9335 (fax)

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Harrison - CDPHE, Tony
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 10:14 AM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Uranium in hair analysis

So, over the years we've had any number of people approach us to say that they had their hair analyzed for heavy metals and the uranium levels were at the 99th percentile, or some such.  For most of these people, investigation of their drinking water, food (from gardens, usually) and other pathways show little or no exposure to environmental or workplace uranium, and I've about convinced myself that such results are mostly false positives.  I've been unable to find any good research on the subject, although NIOSH has somewhat validated hair analysis for zinc exposure, and perhaps a few other metals.  Can any of you direct me to real research, good, bad or indifferent, about uranium uptake in hair, or material in hair that might mimic uranium?  I don't really know how these hair tests work, but I suspect they would not be approved for bioassay or drinking water samples.  Any scientific info would be greatly appreciated.

*Tony Harrison, MSPH*

*Acting Chemistry Program Manager*


P 303-692-3046  |  F 303-691-4069

8100 Lowry Blvd.  Denver, CO 80230

tony.harrison at state.co.us  | colorado.gov/cdphe _______________________________________________
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