The Measurements of Uranium Concentration in Human Blood in Selected Regions in Iraq Using CR-39 Track Detector

Abstract:

The technique of fission track has been applied to determine the concentration of uranium in blood samples for people, male and female of Basrah city (south of Iraq), using CR-39 track detector. During the Gulf Wars I and II in 1991 and 2003 respectively, this city became a place of military operations. The measurements were done for samples of human blood for people to study the impact of exposure in this city as compared to results from Babylon city (central Iraq); the latter is far from exposure locations. The results showed that the uranium concentrations in human blood of people in Basrah city ranged from 0.83 ppb to 2.47 while for people in Babylon city, the uranium concentration ranged from 0.3 ppb to 1.59 ppb. It has also been found that the uranium concentration in human blood samples of people in Basrah city is higher than those of people in Babylon city. Results showed statistically significant differences in the uranium concentration in the residential area.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 925)
• Pages: 679-683
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.925.679
• Online since: April 2014
• Authors: Anees A. Al-Hamzawi*, M.S. Jaafar, Nada F. Tawfiq
• Keywords: Basrah, CR-39, Fission Track, Human Blood, Uranium Concentration

References

[1] D. Banks, O. Royest, T. Strand, H. Skarphagen, Radioelement (U, Th, Rn) concentration in Norwegian bedrock waters, J. Environ Geol. 25 (1995) 165-180.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00768546

[2] I.G. Bersina, R. Brandut, P. Vater, K. Hinke, M. Schutze, Fission tracks autoradiography as a means to investigate for their contamination with natural and technogenic uranium, J. Radiation Measurements. 24 (1995) 277-285.

DOI: 10.1016/1350-4487(94)00099-m

[3] ATSDR, Toxicological profile for uranium, Agency for toxic substance and disease registry, report TP-90, Atlanta, USA, (1990).

[4] W. Briner, The toxicity of DU, J. Environ Republic Health. 7 (2010) 303-313.

[5] N. Segovia, M.E. Olguin, M. Romero, Studies of uranium in the blood of two pollutions samples, nuclear track. 12(1-6) (1986) 797-800.

[6] M.A. MacDiarmid, S. Engelhardt, M. Oliver, P. Gucer, P.D. Wilson, R. Kane, M. Kabat, B. Kaup, L. Anderson, D. Hoover, L. Brown, B. Handwerger, R.J. Albertini, D. Jacobson, C.D. Thome, Katherine, Health effect of depleted uranium on exposed gulf war veterans: A 10-year follow up, J. Toxicology and Environmental Health. 67: 4 (2004).

DOI: 10.1080/15287390490273541

[7] IAEA, Radiological conditions in selected area of southern Iraq with residues of depleted uranium, Report by an international group of experts, Vienna, (2010).

[8] R.L. Fleischer, P.B. Price, R.M. Walker, Nuclear track in solid, University of California, (1975).

[9] N.F. Tawfiq, L.T. Ali, H.A. Al-jobouri, Uranium concentration in human blood for some governorates in Iraq using CR-39 track detector, J. Radioanal Nuc Chem. 295 (2012) 671-674.

DOI: 10.1007/s10967-012-2114-2

[10] M. Romero, M. Sanchez, N. Segovia, Uranium determination in biological samples, Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements. 8(1-4) (1984) 457-459.

DOI: 10.1016/0735-245x(84)90142-x

[11] ICRP, Age dependent dose to members of the public from intake of radionuclides: Part 3 Ingestion dose coefficients, ICRP publication 69, Annals of the ICRP. 25(1) (1995).

DOI: 10.1016/s0146-6453(00)89192-7