In vitro analysis of urinary uranium of cancerous patients in Dhi_Qar governorate, southern Iraq

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 955; p. 176749
• Main Authors: Shaghnab, Murtadha L., Kammoun, Souha, Al-Hamzawi, Anees A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.12.2024
• Subjects: absorption; Aged; Cancer; Child; CR-39; Dhi-Qar; environment; excretion; Female; females; Humans; industrialization; Iraq; Iraq - epidemiology; leukemia; Male; males; Neoplasms - epidemiology; patients; prostatic neoplasms; Public health; Radiation Monitoring; uranium; Uranium - urine; Uranium toxicity; urine; Urine analysis; Iraq; CR-39; Uranium toxicity; Dhi-Qar; Iraq; Public health; Cancer; Urine analysis
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176749

The simple and effective technique of fission track etch has been applied to determine trace concentration of uranium in human urine samples taken from two groups of male and female participants: cancer patients and healthy subjects are living in Dhi-Qar governorate, southern of Iraq. This governorate was the center of industrialization and the prior military activities especially during the Gulf wars in 1991 and 2003, and the abandoned weaponry is still present in these regions. The induced fission track registration was done using the CR-39 track detector. Patients with cancer were statistically significantly distinguished by significantly higher concentrations of uranium as compared with members of a control group, the mean value of uranium concentration for the cancer patients was 3.67 ± 0.16 μg/L, with the maximum recorded uranium concentration was 5.33 ± 0.25 μg/L (male, 75 years old, has prostate cancer) and the minimum concentration was 2.04 ± 0.07 μg/L (female, 7 years old, has leukemia cancer). While the mean value of uranium concentration for the healthy group was 2.80 ± 0.14 μg/L, with the maximum uranium concentration was 4.19 ± 0.23 μg/L (male, 73 years old) and the minimum concentration was 1.28 ± 0.07 μg/L (male, 7 years old). The results also showed a variation in uranium concentration according to gender, smoking status, and age. A gender comparison employed in the study showed that men had higher concentrations of uranium in them than female subjects and this may dawn from the difference in hormonal makeup of the body. While the smoking habit, it was found that persons who smokers, contained higher levels of uranium than those who does not smokers, demonstrating that smoking is the main route for uranium absorption. The finding indicated a significant of uranium excretion with age, which matches the predictions of theICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) uranium model. Based on these findings, it remains necessary for increasing targeted public health interventions, strictly monitoring the environment, and utilizing campaigns to avoid uranium exposure along with related complications in high-risk patient populations. the primary exposure routes and health risks of uranium. Uranium can enter the human body through inhalation of gaseous and aerosol uranium, drinking water, food ingestion or dermal contact (Left), and induce health problems through impairing the kidneys, bones, liver, brain, lungs, and reproductive system (Right). [Display omitted] •High uranium levels in postwar areas, especially Dhi-Qar, concern locals due to past military actions.•Urinary uranium levels in healthy individuals and cancer patients were studied in Dhi-Qar, southern Iraq.•Residents in Dhi-Qar showed alarming urinary uranium levels, indicating severe exposure.•Cancer patients showed rather high urinary uranium levels compared to reported values for healthy people.•Cancer disease was associated with increased uranium levels this region.•Urinary uranium excretion among volunteers based on influence of gender, age and smoking habit was assessed.