title: Concerted Uranium Research in Europe (CURE): toward a collaborative project integrating dosimetry, epidemiology and radiobiology to study the effects of occupational uranium exposure.
abstract: The potential health impacts of chronic exposures to uranium, as they occur in occupational settings, are not well characterized. Most epidemiological studies have been limited by small sample sizes, and a lack of harmonization of methods used to quantify radiation doses resulting from uranium exposure. Experimental studies have shown that uranium has biological effects, but their implications for human health are not clear. New studies that would combine the strengths of large, well-designed epidemiological datasets with those of state-of-the-art biological methods would help improve the characterization of the biological and health effects of occupational uranium exposure. The aim of the European Commission concerted action CURE (Concerted Uranium Research in Europe) was to develop protocols for such a future collaborative research project, in which dosimetry, epidemiology and biology would be integrated to better characterize the effects of occupational uranium exposure. These protocols were developed from existing European cohorts of workers exposed to uranium together with expertise in epidemiology, biology and dosimetry of CURE partner institutions. The preparatory work of CURE should allow a large scale collaborative project to be launched, in order to better characterize the effects of uranium exposure and more generally of alpha particles and low doses of ionizing radiation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay aux Roses, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
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authors.lastname: Gueguen
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authors.forename: Chrystelle
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authors.lastname: Ibanez
authors.forename: Sylwia
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authors.lastname: Kabacik
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authors.lastname: Kotik
authors.forename: Michaela
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authors.forename: Anne Laure
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authors.lastname: Lebacq
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authors.forename: Dietmar
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authors.lastname: Nosske
authors.forename: Jackie
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authors.lastname: O'Hagan
authors.forename: Eileen
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authors.lastname: Pernot
authors.forename: Matthew
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authors.lastname: Puncher
authors.forename: Estelle
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authors.lastname: Rage
authors.forename: Tony
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authors.lastname: Riddell
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Eric
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authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: Maamar
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authors.lastname: Souidi
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
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mesh_terms: D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011853:Radiobiology / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014501:Uranium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium