[ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions

[Ivor Surveyor]

>>... a major risk from exposure to soluble uranium is kidney damage, and there
>>are many drinking water source with uranium concentrations that will result
>>in kidney burdens above those possible from inhaled UNO(sub3).
 >>>>>>>>

My understanding is that soluble salts of Uranium are readily absorbed from 
the lung, GI tract etc. However,  Assuming an acute exposure to soluble U 
according to table 2 of Appendix 1 of Royal Society report part 2. 60-80% 
of an intravenous dose in animal studies is excreted within 24h.
In humans 56.2% of uranium was excreted in urine within 24 h.

It seems to me, and I am open to correction that to cause clinical 
significant renal damage, there would in general have to be chronic 
(prolonged)exposure to soluble U.

The only case that I am aware of acute toxicity was described by Pavlakis N 
et al from Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney.  Nepron 1996; 72:313-317.
The patient a male deliberately ingested 15g of uranium acetate. This 
resulted in acute renal failure. He required dialysis.  Follow up at 6 
months showed his creatinine had stabilized at 0.19 mmol/l and he had an 
incomplete Fanconi syndrome.

I imagine it must unlikely that exposure from DU munition would approach 
the level of 15 g a day.

Ivor Surveyor MD;FRCP;FRACP
Emeritus Consultant Physician, Nuclear Medicine.
email:  isurveyor at vianet.net.au