title: Biological monitoring of uranium exposure in south central Virginia.
abstract: In May 2004, two groundwater wells in Dinwiddie County, Virginia were found to have natural uranium levels either at or above the EPA recommended limit of 30 microg/l. As a result, a stop drinking water advisory was issued until a water treatment system could be installed to remove the uranium. In response to residents' concerns, and uncertainty of exposures, affected individuals were asked to participate in a voluntary epidemiological investigation of uranium uptake and 1-year uranium retention study. This study had two primary objectives: quantification of the uranium load on the participants, as expressed by their urine uranium concentration, and retention after 1 year of no exposure. A first-morning void urine specimen, along with survey information, was collected from 156 participants in May 2004, with a second collection occurring 12 months later of 91 participants. The samples were analyzed for uranium by ICP/MS, pH, creatinine by the Jaffe method, and RBP by LIA after both collections. A reduction of one order of magnitude for the geometric mean urine uranium concentration was observed, from 0.100 microg/g creatinine to 0.011 microg/g creatinine in 1 year. Comparatively, NHANES has reported that the geometric mean for all participants, ages 6 years and older, is 0.008 microg/g creatinine, with the 95th percentile being 0.040 microg/g creatinine. None of the second round specimens showed a urine uranium concentration higher than baseline for an individual.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Richmond, Virginia 23219, USA.
authors.forename: Shane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Lloyd V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Reitz
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Croley
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mckeown
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamner
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Royster
mesh_terms: D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014501:Uranium / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D014768:Virginia
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D014501:Uranium; D003404:Creatinine