| Description |
1 online resource (16 p.) : ill. |
| Series |
Technical report ; 96-3 |
|
AFRRI technical report ; 96-3.
|
| Type Of Report |
Technical report. |
| Note |
"July 1996." |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (p. 13-16). |
| Summary |
During the Persian Gulf War, 36 U.S. soldiers were wounded by depleted uranium (DU) munitions. Based on medical guidelines for conventional shrapnel injuries (nonradioactive), many DU fragments were left in soldiers. Unfortunately, health risks associated with embedded DU were unknown, and an animal model to investigate this did not exist. The purpose of this study was to develop an animal model to examine the health risks associated with DU shrapnel injuries. Twelve rats were surgically implanted intramuscularly with 8 DU pellets (1 mm in diameter x 2 mm in length) or 8 chemically inert tantalum (Ta) pellets of similar size. Urinary uranium levels were measured on days 1, 3,7, 14, 28, 60, and 120 after implantation of DU pellets. Physiological and behavioral parameters, including locomotor activity, forelimb and hindlimb grip strength, food and water consumption, and urinary output, were measured 5 and 3 days before surgery and on days 1, 3,7, 14,28, 60, and 120 after surgery. Urinary uranium levels for Ta-implanted rats remained at background levels. In contrast, the average urinary uranium level for DU-implanted rats was significantly elevated on day 1(28.69 ug U/I) after implantation and remained elevated until day 120 (204.56 ug U/I). There was no significant difference between DU- and Ta-implanted rats in any behavioral or physiological measures. Results indicate that the rat is an appropriate animal model for evaluating biological effects of embedded DU fragments. |
| Funding |
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. PE: NWED QAXM. |
| Subject |
Radiobiology.
|
|
Weapons Effects(biological)
|
|
Radioactiv, Radioactive Wastes & Fission Prod.
|
|
Health.
|
|
Wounds and injuries.
|
|
Weapons effects.
|
|
Depleted uranium.
|
|
Bullet wounds.
|
|
Ammunition fragments.
|
|
Risk.
|
|
Rats.
|
|
Persian gulf.
|
|
Army personnel.
|
|
Parameters.
|
|
Water.
|
|
Medicine.
|
|
Military medicine.
|
|
Embedding.
|
|
Pellets.
|
|
Animals.
|
|
Physiology.
|
|
Consumption.
|
|
Behavior.
|
|
Instructions.
|
|
Response(biology)
|
|
Surgery.
|
|
Food.
|
|
Uranium.
|
|
Fragments.
|
|
Urine.
|
|
Radiobiology.
|
|
Locomotion.
|
|
Radioactivity -- Toxicology -- United States.
|
|
Uranium -- Toxicology -- United States.
|
| Indexed Term |
SHARPNEL INJURIES |
| Added Author |
Castro, Carl Andrew.
|
|
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (U.S.)
|
| Standard No. |
DTICE ADA310662 |
| Gpo Item No. |
0379-B-10 (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
D 15.12/2:96-3 |
|
