Uranium Medical Research CentreUranium Medical Research Centre

www.umrc.netwww.umrc.net

The Analysis of UraniumThe Analysis of UraniumIsotopes Abundance and RatiosIsotopes Abundance and Ratios

in the Civilian Populationin the Civilian Populationof Eastern Afghanistanof Eastern Afghanistan

after Operation Enduring Freedomafter Operation Enduring Freedom

A. Durakovic, A. Gerdes,A. Durakovic, A. Gerdes,F. Klimaschewski, I. ZimmermanF. Klimaschewski, I. Zimmerman

Uranium Medical Research CentreUranium Medical Research CentreWashington, DC, USAWashington, DC, USA

London, UKLondon, UKToronto, Ontario, CanadaToronto, Ontario, Canada

Institute for MineralogyInstitute for MineralogyJW Goethe UniversityJW Goethe UniversityFrankfurt, GermanyFrankfurt, Germany

ObjectiveObjective

The purpose of this work was to determine the The purpose of this work was to determine the concentration and precise ratio of four concentration and precise ratio of four uranium isotopes (uranium isotopes (234234U, U, 235235U, U, 236236U, U, 238238U) in the U) in the urine specimens of the civilian population in urine specimens of the civilian population in Eastern Afghanistan following Operation Eastern Afghanistan following Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).Enduring Freedom (OEF).

The Unique SignatureThe Unique Signatureof Artificial Uraniumof Artificial Uranium

238238U/U/235235U RatioU Ratio

Natural Uranium:Natural Uranium: 137.88137.88

Depleted Uranium:Depleted Uranium: 492.60492.60

Non-Depleted Uranium:Non-Depleted Uranium: 137.88 + 137.88 + 236236UU

Bomb Crater, Jalalabad, AfghanistanBomb Crater, Jalalabad, Afghanistan

SubjectsSubjects

► Twenty-one symptomatic subjects were Twenty-one symptomatic subjects were chosen from various locations of Eastern chosen from various locations of Eastern Afghanistan by the UMRC Field Research Afghanistan by the UMRC Field Research Team in during two field trips in 2002.Team in during two field trips in 2002.

► All subjects were presenting with symptoms All subjects were presenting with symptoms of fatigue, fever, musculo-skeletal and of fatigue, fever, musculo-skeletal and neurological alterations, headaches, and neurological alterations, headaches, and respiratory impairment after inhalation of respiratory impairment after inhalation of dust during the bombing raids in June, 2002.dust during the bombing raids in June, 2002.

► The subjects had their urine samples The subjects had their urine samples collected under controlled conditions.collected under controlled conditions.

Child Survivors of the Bombing of Child Survivors of the Bombing of Houses in Bibi MahrowHouses in Bibi Mahrow

ControlsControls

►Three subjects who were apparently Three subjects who were apparently healthy and reported to have been in healthy and reported to have been in parts of the country not effected by parts of the country not effected by the bombing raids had their urine the bombing raids had their urine collected for comparison.collected for comparison.

Sample PreparationSample Preparation

►Chemical preparation of the uranium Chemical preparation of the uranium in each urine sample involved pre-in each urine sample involved pre-concentration of the uranium using co-concentration of the uranium using co-precipitation, evaporation, oxidation of precipitation, evaporation, oxidation of organic matter, and purification of organic matter, and purification of uranium by ion-exchange uranium by ion-exchange chromatography.chromatography.

Sample AnalysisSample Analysis

►The samples were analyzed using a The samples were analyzed using a double focusing Thermo-Elemental double focusing Thermo-Elemental Plasma54 multi-collector ICP-MS Plasma54 multi-collector ICP-MS equipped with a Daly detector for ion equipped with a Daly detector for ion counting and multiple faraday cups.counting and multiple faraday cups.

►The analysis was done at the NERC The analysis was done at the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts, United KingdomNotts, United Kingdom

Analytical MethodsAnalytical Methods

► Analytical blanks were negligible at less Analytical blanks were negligible at less than 50 picograms U, and chemical recovery than 50 picograms U, and chemical recovery was > 80% in most cases.was > 80% in most cases.

► Along with the samples, analyses were Along with the samples, analyses were conducted of a urine internal standard (with conducted of a urine internal standard (with c. 11 ng/L uranium) of natural isotopic c. 11 ng/L uranium) of natural isotopic composition (atomic ratio 137.88 for composition (atomic ratio 137.88 for 238238U:U:235235U) and certified isotopic standards of U) and certified isotopic standards of uranium, both of which returned the correct uranium, both of which returned the correct values for the standards. values for the standards.

ResultsResults

► The The 238238U/U/235235U ratio was 138.15 compared U ratio was 138.15 compared with 137.88 for natural uranium.with 137.88 for natural uranium.

► The The 234234U/U/238238U ratio of 5.75 x 10U ratio of 5.75 x 10-5-5 compared compared with 5.54 x 10with 5.54 x 10-5 -5 for natural uranium.for natural uranium.

► The mean concentration of uranium 231.23 The mean concentration of uranium 231.23 ng/L was considerably greater than ng/L was considerably greater than expected for a normal population 1-20 ng/Lexpected for a normal population 1-20 ng/L

► 236236U was detected in 6 of the 21 samples U was detected in 6 of the 21 samples with a with a 236236U/U/238238U ratio greater than the U ratio greater than the detection limit of 1.0 x 10detection limit of 1.0 x 10-7-7..

SubjectSubject 238238U/U/235235UU 2 Sigma2 Sigma 234234U/U/238238UU 2 Sigma2 Sigma 236236U/U/238238UU 2 Sigma2 Sigma

11 137.65137.65 0.150.15 5.53 x 105.53 x 10-5-5 1.27 x 101.27 x 10-6-6 4.61 x 104.61 x 10-8-8 2.20 x 102.20 x 10-9-9

22 138.09138.09 0.180.18 5.43 x 105.43 x 10-5-5 1.22 x 101.22 x 10-6-6 6.67 x 106.67 x 10-8-8 5.60 x 105.60 x 10-9-9

33 137.55137.55 0.190.19 5.55 x 105.55 x 10-5-5 1.37 x 101.37 x 10-6-6 9.60 x 109.60 x 10-8-8 8.20 x 108.20 x 10-9-9

44 137.95137.95 0.150.15 5.44 x 105.44 x 10-5-5 1.19 x 101.19 x 10-6-6 8.9 x 108.9 x 10-9-9 2.60 x 102.60 x 10-9-9

55 138.08138.08 0.150.15 5.45 x 105.45 x 10-5-5 1.17 x 101.17 x 10-6-6 2.2 x 102.2 x 10-9-9 1.60 x 101.60 x 10-9-9

66 137.98137.98 0.160.16 5.44 x 105.44 x 10-5-5 1.31 x 101.31 x 10-6-6 2.65 x 102.65 x 10-8-8 3.60 x 103.60 x 10-9-9

77 137.82137.82 0.140.14 5.62 x 105.62 x 10-5-5 1.57 x 101.57 x 10-6-6 7.79 x 107.79 x 10-8-8 5.20 x 105.20 x 10-9-9

88 137.86137.86 0.140.14 5.63 x 105.63 x 10-5-5 1.54 x 101.54 x 10-6-6 7.35 x 107.35 x 10-8-8 5.00 x 105.00 x 10-9-9

99 138.52138.52 0.690.69 5.40 x 105.40 x 10-8-8 5.72 x 105.72 x 10-9-9

1010 138.93138.93 0.750.75 5.40 x 105.40 x 10-8-8 5.72 x 105.72 x 10-9-9

1111 137.72137.72 0.960.96 7.20 x 107.20 x 10-5-5 4.76 x 104.76 x 10-5-5 2.30 x 102.30 x 10-6-6 3.08 x 103.08 x 10-7-7

1212 137.74137.74 0.740.74 1.80 x 101.80 x 10-7-7 1.76 x 101.76 x 10-8-8

1313 137.91137.91 0.060.06

1414 137.97137.97 0.940.94 5.70 x 105.70 x 10-5-5 1.70 x 101.70 x 10-5-5 9.40 x 109.40 x 10-7-7 1.15 x 101.15 x 10-7-7

1515 138.26138.26 0.940.94 6.20 x 106.20 x 10-5-5 5.34 x 105.34 x 10-6-6 2.50 x 102.50 x 10-6-6 9.0 x 109.0 x 10-8-8

1616 138.50138.50 0.690.69 9.20 x 109.20 x 10-7-7 4.60 x 104.60 x 10-8-8

1717 138.47138.47 0.750.75 2.70 x 102.70 x 10-8-8 4.06 x 104.06 x 10-9-9

1818 138.58138.58 0.690.69

1919 138.68138.68 0.690.69 1.50 x 101.50 x 10-7-7 1.08 x 101.08 x 10-8-8

2020 138.27138.27 0.690.69 4.90 x 104.90 x 10-8-8 1.00 x 101.00 x 10-8-8

2121 138.70138.70 0.720.72 7.10 x 107.10 x 10-8-8 3.32 x 103.32 x 10-8-8

AverageAverage 138.15138.15 5.75 x 105.75 x 10-5-5 4.02 x 104.02 x 10-7-7

STDSTD 0.390.39 5.29 x 105.29 x 10-6-6 7.56 x 107.56 x 10-7-7

SESE 0.080.08 1.53 x 101.53 x 10-6-6 1.69 x 101.69 x 10-7-7

Table 1: Isotopic RatiosTable 1: Isotopic Ratios

SubjectSubject % % 238238UU % % 235235UU % % 234234UU % % 236236UU

11 99.273399.2733 0.72120.7212 5.49 x 105.49 x 10-3-3 3.67 x 103.67 x 10-6-6

22 99.275799.2757 0.71890.7189 5.38 x 105.38 x 10-3-3 6.63 x 106.63 x 10-6-6

33 99.272799.2727 0.72170.7217 5.51 x 105.51 x 10-3-3 9.53 x 109.53 x 10-6-6

44 99.275099.2750 0.71960.7196 5.40 x 105.40 x 10-3-3 8.84 x 108.84 x 10-7-7

55 99.275699.2756 0.71900.7190 5.41 x 105.41 x 10-3-3 2.16 x 102.16 x 10-7-7

66 99.275199.2751 0.71950.7195 5.40 x 105.40 x 10-3-3 2.63 x 102.63 x 10-6-6

77 99.274199.2741 0.72030.7203 5.58 x 105.58 x 10-3-3 7.73 x 107.73 x 10-6-6

88 99.274399.2743 0.72010.7201 5.58 x 105.58 x 10-3-3 7.30 x 107.30 x 10-6-6

99 99.283399.2833 0.71670.7167 5.36 x 105.36 x 10-6-6

1010 99.285399.2853 0.71470.7147 5.36 x 105.36 x 10-6-6

1111 99.271899.2718 0.72080.7208 7.15 x 107.15 x 10-3-3 2.28 x 102.28 x 10-4-4

1212 99.279299.2792 0.72080.7208 5.66 x 105.66 x 10-3-3 1.79 x 101.79 x 10-5-5

1313 99.280199.2801 0.71990.7199 6.16 x 106.16 x 10-3-3

1414 99.274799.2747 0.71950.7195 9.33 x 109.33 x 10-5-5

1515 99.275599.2755 0.71810.7181 2.48 x 102.48 x 10-4-4

1616 99.283199.2831 0.71680.7168 9.13 x 109.13 x 10-5-5

1717 99.283099.2830 0.71700.7170 2.68 x 102.68 x 10-6-6

1818 99.283699.2836 0.71640.7164

1919 99.284199.2841 0.71590.7159 1.49 x 101.49 x 10-5-5

2020 99.282099.2820 0.71800.7180 4.86 x 104.86 x 10-6-6

2121 99.284299.2842 0.71580.7158 7.05 x 107.05 x 10-6-6

AverageAverage 99.278499.2784 0.71860.7186 5.70 x 105.70 x 10-3-3 3.99 x 103.99 x 10-5-5

STDSTD 0.00460.0046 0.00200.0020 5.27 x 105.27 x 10-4-4 7.51 x 107.51 x 10-5-5

SESE 0.00100.0010 0.00040.0004 1.52 x 101.52 x 10-4-4 1.68 x 101.68 x 10-5-5

Table 2: Isotopic AbundanceTable 2: Isotopic Abundance

SubjectSubject U ng/LU ng/L

11 279.17279.17

22 245.27245.27

33 128.03128.03

44 449.97449.97

55 474.42474.42

66 296.48296.48

77 87.8887.88

88 223.18223.18

99 94.0794.07

1010 25.7825.78

1111 10.8810.88

SubjectSubject U ng/LU ng/L

1212 40.1940.19

1313 2031.632031.63

1414 29.9229.92

1515 99.6299.62

1616 57.5157.51

1717 74.8474.84

1818 44.3244.32

1919 90.0490.04

2020 39.5839.58

2121 33.1433.14

U ng/LU ng/L

AverageAverage 231.23231.23

STDSTD 434.50434.50

SESE 92.6492.64

Table 3: Uranium ConcentrationTable 3: Uranium Concentration

SubjectSubject 238238U/U/235235UU 2 Sigma2 Sigma 234234U/U/238238UU 2 Sigma2 Sigma 236236U/U/238238UU 2 Sigma2 Sigma

11 138.97138.97 0.940.94 6.30 x 106.30 x 10-5-5 8.56 x 108.56 x 10-6-6 5.90 x 105.90 x 10-6-6 1.30 x 101.30 x 10-8-8

22 139.10139.10 0.720.72 2.60 x 102.60 x 10-7-7 2.60 x 102.60 x 10-8-8

33 137.44137.44 0.960.96 6.30 x 106.30 x 10-5-5 5.42 x 105.42 x 10-5-5 2.20 x 102.20 x 10-7-7 1.69 x 101.69 x 10-7-7

AverageAverage 138.50138.50 6.30 x 106.30 x 10-5-5 2.13 x 102.13 x 10-6-6

STDSTD 0.920.92 3.27 x 103.27 x 10-6-6

SESE 0.530.53 1.89 x 101.89 x 10-6-6

SubjectSubject U ng/LU ng/L

11 59.9359.93

22 26.7926.79

33 9.479.47

AverageAverage 32.0632.06

STDSTD 25.6425.64

SESE 14.8014.80

ControlsControlsTable 5: Control Uranium Concentration

Table 6: Control Isotopic Ratios

Chart 1: Uranium ConcentrationChart 1: Uranium Concentration

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

1800

2100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1112 1314 1516 1718 1920 21C1 C2C3

ConclusionConclusion

►Our results confirm a significantly elevated Our results confirm a significantly elevated presence of uranium isotopes in the urine of presence of uranium isotopes in the urine of Afghan civilians after Operation Enduring Afghan civilians after Operation Enduring Freedom.Freedom.

► This demonstrates contamination from a This demonstrates contamination from a source consistent with natural uranium (NU), source consistent with natural uranium (NU), resulting in total uranium concentration resulting in total uranium concentration levels of up to 100 times higher than the levels of up to 100 times higher than the normal range of various worldwide normal range of various worldwide geographic and environmental areas.geographic and environmental areas.

ConclusionConclusion

► Possible explanation of our findings may be Possible explanation of our findings may be either a consequence of exposure due to either a consequence of exposure due to deployment of weapons containing non-deployment of weapons containing non-depleted uranium (NDU) or unusually high depleted uranium (NDU) or unusually high levels of natural uranium (NU) in drinking levels of natural uranium (NU) in drinking water or soil in the particular geographic water or soil in the particular geographic areas.areas.

► The cause of the urinary presence of natural The cause of the urinary presence of natural and non-depleted uranium may be and non-depleted uranium may be consistent with our previously reported consistent with our previously reported findings of contamination by inhalation of findings of contamination by inhalation of uranium containing aerosols.uranium containing aerosols.

Uranium Medical Research CentreUranium Medical Research Centre

www.umrc.netwww.umrc.net