title: Uranium in drinking water: renal effects of long-term ingestion by an aboriginal community.
abstract: The authors conducted a study of an aboriginal community to determine if kidney func-tion had been affected by the chronic ingestion of uranium in drinking water from the community's drilled wells. Uranium concentrations in drinking water varied from < 1 to 845 ppb. This nonin-vasive study relied on the measurement of a combination of urinary indicators of kidney function and markers for cell toxicity. In all, 54 individuals (12-73 years old) participated in the study. Correlation of uranium excreted in urine with bio-indicators at p <or=.05 indicated interference with the kidney's reabsorptive function. Because of the community's concerns regarding cancer incidence, the authors also calculated cumulative radiation doses using uranium intake in drinking water over the preceding 15-year period. The highest total uranium intake over this period was 1,761 mg. The risk of cancer from the highest dose, 2.1 mSv, is 13 in 100,000, which would be difficult to detect in the community studied (population size = 1,480). This study indicates that at the observed levels of uranium intake, chemical toxicity would be a greater health concern than would radiation dose.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada. maria.zamora@rogers.com
authors.forename: Maria L Limson
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.forename: Gerry B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Moodie
authors.forename: Renato A F
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Falcomer
authors.forename: Wendy C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Capello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D013995:Time; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D016482:Urinalysis; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium