Information On Depleted Uranium (Du) - Department Of Veterans Affairs

War Related Illness and Inju

ry Study Center

WRIISC

Office of Public Health

Department of Veterans Affairs

very radioactive. DU contains 40

A 2008 study by the IOM included a

abnormal breathing tests or lung

percent less radioactivity than

review of over 1,000 recent research

disease in persons who had such

natural Uranium, which is already

studies which examined exposure to

exposures.

a weakly radioactive substance.

DU and health effects (i.e. different

W H E N S H O U L D A N

The radioactivity of DU outside

types of cancer like renal cancer

I N D I V I D UA L B E T E S T E D?

the body does not pose a health

and non-malignant diseases such

Current research shows that most

concern, including that of cancer.

as neurological problems). The IOM

service men and women who were

This has been studied by the World

report concluded that a large or

exposed to DU are not likely to have

Health Organization, Department of

frequent health effect is unlikely

harmful health effects. However,

Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of

from exposure to DU. The report also

Veterans often wonder if they were

Defense (DoD), the United Kingdom

emphasized that there is not enough

exposed and how much exposure

Royal Society, and more recently,

research to state for sure that a

they may have had. In general, most

the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (See

particular health outcome can never

services members have not had

details in References, below).

occur.

an exposure that would make DU

Studies on uranium miners and

The VA and the DoD established

testing clinically recommended.

processors (people with high

the Depleted Uranium Follow-

It is still important to talk about any

exposure to uranium over a long

Up Program at the Baltimore

concerns you might have about

period of time) have shown that the

VA Medical Center to screen

exposure to DU with your primary

main health effect of high doses of

and monitor Veterans for health

care provider. He or she can discuss

uranium is on the kidneys. This is

problems associated with exposure

the type and length of your exposure

largely because uranium is a heavy

to DU. Since 1993, this program has

to DU and the chance that you might

metal and in this regards behaves

followed Veterans with retained DU

still carry DU in your body. You can

similarly to other heavy metals.

fragments and those exposed to DU

work as a team to see what steps to

High doses of uranium cause kidney

as a result of their involvement in

take next.

function to slowly become worse.

“friendly fire” incidents during the

The anticipated long term effect

Gulf War. After 20 years of follow

The easiest tests for health effects of

of high doses of DU is also on the

up, participants with retained DU

DU exposure are simple blood and

kidneys. A person’s kidney function

fragments continue to have elevated

urine tests to evaluate your kidney

can be tested easily by blood and

urine uranium levels. However, when

function. Your provider may also

urine tests.

comparing those with high urine

refer you to see an Environmental

uranium to those with low, there

Health Clinician to talk further about

The possibility of harmful health

have been no clinically significant

your deployment exposures and

effects from exposure to DU is based

differences between those with

health concerns, or refer you to the

on the amount of DU that stays in the

high and low DU levels. In addition,

War Related Illness and Injury Study

body. The amount of DU that stays in

there has been no link between DU

Center (WRIISC) for an exposure

the body is a result of the type and

exposure and outcomes such as

consult. We provide this evaluation

length of exposure. Very few service

cancer and birth defects.

in-person or by telephone. If after

men and women are exposed to a

these discussions you are still

large enough amount of DU or have

The same researchers at the

concerned about your exposure to

enough DU left in their body to result

Baltimore VA Medical Center also

DU, you may request a test for DU,

in any health effects. All of those

examined whether or not breathing

that is available from the VA at no

identified by the VA with elevated

in DU containing smoke/dust during

charge to you.

urinary DU have been victims of

friendly fire incidents affected the

“friendly-fire incidents. ”

lungs. There was no evidence of

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Information On Depleted Uranium (Du) - Department Of Veterans Affairs - 2013 Page 2

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