Health Hazards for Uranium Mine and Mill Workers - Science Issues

"Many uranium miners have been disabled by and died of pulmonary fibrosis that was not recognized as an occupational disease. A review of animal studies, complications from whole body irradiation, pulmonary function, and mortality studies of uranium miners led us to suspect radiation-induced chronic diffuse interstitial fibrosis in miners who had inhaled excessive radon progeny. A selected group of uranium miners (22) with severe respiratory disease (but no rounded nodules in chest films) were studied. Lung tissue from five disclosed severe diffuse interstitial fibrosis, with "honeycomb lung" in all. Some also had small anthrasilicotic nodules and birefringent crystals. Although quartz crystals probably contributed, we concluded that the predominant injurious agent in these cases was alpha particles from radon progeny. This disease, after a long latent period, usually results in pulmonary hypertension, shortness of breath, and death by cardiopulmonary failure." Reference: Archer VE et al: Chronic diffuse interstitial fibrosis of the lung in uranium miners. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 40, No. 5, May 1998 May, p.460-474 Pagina 1 di 9 Health Hazards for Uranium Mine and Mill Workers Science Issues 02/02/2013 file:///C:/Users/FERNANDO%20TERMENTINI/Desktop/DU%20masterizzare/note... Native American uranium miners experience higher risk of nonmalignant respiratory disease Native American miners have more nonmalignant respiratory disease from underground uranium mining, and less disease from smoking, than other miner groups, but are less likely to receive compensation for mining-related disease. Uranium mining is more strongly associated with obstructive lung disease and radiographic pneumoconiosis in Native Americans than in Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. Obstructive lung disease in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White miners is mostly related to cigarette smoking. Current compensation criteria excluded 24% of Native Americans who, by ethnic-specific standards, had restrictive lung disease and 4.8% who had obstructive lung disease. Native Americans have the highest prevalence of radiographic pneumoconiosis, but are less likely to meet spirometry criteria for compensation. Reference: Mapel, DW; Coultas, DB; James, DS; et al.: Ethnic differences in the prevalence of nonmalignant respiratory disease among uranium miners, in: American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 87, 1997, No. 5 (May), p.833-838 Chromosomal Aberrations With Namibian Uranium Mine Workers Verification study finds no excess chromosomal aberrations in Namibian uranium miners "On 22 June 2000 Drs Lloyd and Lucas, the two international experts appointed by Rössing Uranium Ltd and the branch executive of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), announced in Windhoek the results of the Verification Study on the effects of long-term, low dose radiation exposure. The purpose of the study was to confirm or refute the study findings on radiation exposure of Dr Reinhard Zaire, the retained expert of the MUN. Dr Zaire's findings suggested that there was a high incidence of chromosomal aberrations among Rössing employees due to long-term, low dose radiation exposure. The experts refuted Dr Zaire's findings and stated in the report: 'The overall conclusion is that the frequency of chromosomal damage in the miners did not exceed that in the control subjects. This verification study has therefore not confirmed the earlier report of Dr Zaire and his colleagues.' [...] To implement the study, blood samples were obtained from two groups, namely the study group and the control group. The study group consisted of ten Rössing employees with the highest accumulated radiation dose, and the control group of ten individuals from communities at the coast with no connection to Rössing. All participants were screened for suitability to participate in the study according to the selection criteria prescribed by the two experts and agreed by the Rössing and the MUN." (from Rössing/MUN media release, June 30, 2000) Pagina 2 di 9 Health Hazards for Uranium Mine and Mill Workers Science Issues 02/02/2013 file:///C:/Users/FERNANDO%20TERMENTINI/Desktop/DU%20masterizzare/note... Excess chromosomal aberrations found in Namibian uranium miners A new study found two-fold chromosomal aberrations with workers at the Rössing uranium mine and mill in Namibia, compared to a control group. Analysis of white blood cells from uranium mineworkers in Namibia for chromosomal and phenotypic alterations (excerpt from poster presented by R.Zaire et al. at the Congress of German and Austrian Oncologists in Hamburg, 8 Oct 1995)