Semen Uranium Concentrations in Depleted Uranium Exposed Gulf War Veterans: Correlations with Other Body Fluid Matrices.

Environmental metal exposure, as well as dietary metals, may adversely affect semen quality even as others play an essential role in normal spermatogenesis and fertility. Measures of seminal fluid metals have therefore been of high interest in the last several decades but have shown inconsistent results in correlations with some semen quality parameters. As well, environmental metal measures across various body fluid matrices have not been consistently correlated contrary to what one might hypothesize based on a systemic body burden of metal.

Metal Exposure in Veterans With Embedded Fragments From War-Related Injuries: Early Findings From Surveillance Efforts.

Objective: To characterize systemic metal exposures from retained fragments in a cohort of war-injured US Veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs' Embedded Fragment Registry.

Methods: Five hundred seventy nine registry-enrolled Veterans submitted an exposure questionnaire and urine sample for analyses of 14 metals often found in fragments. Urine metal results were compared with reference values of unexposed populations to identify elevations.

The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs depleted uranium exposed cohort at 25 Years: Longitudinal surveillance results.

Background: A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly-fire incidents have been monitored for health changes in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994.

Methods: During the spring of 2015, an in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 36 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes.

Results: On-going mobilization of U from embedded fragments is evidenced by elevated urine U concentrations.

Mobilization of Metal From Retained Embedded Fragments in a Blast-Injured Iraq War Veteran.

A frequent comorbidity of traumatic injury due to a blast or explosion, commonly reported in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, is that of retained embedded fragments typically of unknown content. Because of concerns over both local and systemic health effects related to both the physical presence of and mobilization of materials from embedded fragments, the Department of Veterans Affairs established a surveillance program for this group of veterans. We present here the case of a surveillance-enrolled veteran who submitted: (1) three surgically removed fragments for content analyses, (2) tissue adhered to the fragments for histology and metal concentration evaluation, and (3) pre- and postfragment removal urine samples to assess concentrations of various metals often found in fragments.

Mutagenicity monitoring following battlefield exposures: Molecular analysis of HPRT mutations in Gulf War I veterans exposed to depleted uranium.

Molecular studies that involved cDNA and genomic DNA sequencing as well as multiplex PCR of the HPRT gene were performed to determine the molecular mutational spectrum for 1,377 HPRT mutant isolates obtained from 61 Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, most of whom were exposed to depleted uranium (DU). Mutant colonies were isolated from one to four times from each Veteran (in 2003, 2005, 2007, and/or 2009). The relative frequencies of the various types of mutations (point mutations, deletions, insertions, etc.

Mutagenicity monitoring following battlefield exposures: Longitudinal study of HPRT mutations in Gulf War I veterans exposed to depleted uranium.

A total of 70 military Veterans have been monitored for HPRT T-cell mutations in five separate studies at 2-year intervals over an 8-year period. Systemic depleted uranium (DU) levels were measured at the time of each study by determining urinary uranium (uU) excretion. Each HPRT study included 30-40 Veterans, several with retained DU-containing shrapnel.

Biologic monitoring and surveillance results for the department of veterans affairs' depleted uranium cohort: Lessons learned from sustained exposure over two decades.

Background: A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly fire incidents have been monitored in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994.

Methods: An in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 35 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes.

Results: Although urine U concentrations continue to be elevated in this group, illustrating on-going in situ mobilization of U from embedded fragments, no consistent U-related health effects have been observed.

Chapter 4 embedded metal fragments.

The continued evolution of military munitions and armor on the battlefield, as well as the insurgent use of improvised explosive devices, has led to embedded fragment wounds containing metal and metal mixtures whose long-term toxicologic and carcinogenic properties are not as yet known. Advances in medical care have greatly increased the survival from these types of injuries. Standard surgical guidelines suggest leaving embedded fragments in place, thus individuals may carry these retained metal fragments for the rest of their lives.

Comparative physicochemical and biological characterization of NIST Interim Reference Material PM2.5 and SRM 1648 in human A549 and mouse RAW264.7 cells.

The epidemiological association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and adverse health effects is well-known. Here we report the size distribution, metals content, endotoxin content, and biological activity of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Interim Reference Material (RM) PM2.

Surveillance for long-term health effects associated with depleted uranium exposure and retained embedded fragments in US veterans.

Objective: To ensure that all veterans with retained embedded fragments are properly monitored for potential health effects of embedded materials.

Methods: Urine biomonitoring and health surveillance programs were developed to gather information about health risks associated with chemicals released from embedded fragments.

Results: Elevated systemic exposure to depleted uranium (DU) that continues to occur in veterans with DU fragments remains a concern, although no clinically significant DU-related health effects have been observed to date.

Measures of genotoxicity in Gulf war I veterans exposed to depleted uranium.

Exposure to depleted uranium (DU), an alpha-emitting heavy metal, has prompted the inclusion of markers of genotoxicity in the long-term medical surveillance of a cohort of DU-exposed Gulf War veterans followed since 1994. Using urine U (uU) concentration as the measure of U body burden, the cohort has been stratified into low-u (<0.10 μg U/g creatinine) and high-u groups (≥ 0.

Patch testing with uranyl acetate in veterans exposed to depleted uranium during the 1991 Gulf war and the Iraqi conflict.

Background: The Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Program is a clinical surveillance program run by the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center since 1993 for veterans of the Gulf and Iraqi wars who were exposed to depleted uranium (DU) as a result of "friendly-fire" incidents.

Objectives And Methods: In 2009, 40 veterans from this cohort were screened for skin reactivity to metals by patch-testing with extended metal series and uranyl acetate (0.25%, 2.

Methodology for collecting, storing, and analyzing human milk for volatile organic compounds.

Biomonitoring, or the measurement of environmental chemicals in human tissues and fluids, is used to supplement-and in some cases replace-more traditional exposure assessments which measure chemicals in environmental media. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in physiological fluids are biomarkers of exposure that present numerous challenges for sample collection and analysis. To date, a thorough evaluation of methods for collection and analysis of breast milk samples for volatiles has not been conducted.

Biological monitoring for depleted uranium exposure in U.S. Veterans.

Background: As part of an ongoing medical surveillance program for U.S. veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU), biological monitoring of urine uranium (U) concentrations is offered to any veteran of the Gulf War and those serving in more recent conflicts (post-Gulf War veterans).

Depleted uranium exposure and health effects in Gulf War veterans.

Health effects stemming from depleted uranium (DU) exposure in a cohort of Gulf War veterans who were in or on US Army vehicles hit by friendly fire involving DU munitions are being carefully monitored through the Baltimore Veterans Affairs (VA) DU Follow-Up Program initiated in 1993. DU exposure in this cohort has been directly measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) isotopic analysis for DU in urine specimens. Soldiers with embedded DU fragments continue to excrete elevated concentrations of U in their urine, documenting ongoing systemic exposure to U released from their fragments.

Prediction of renal concentrations of depleted uranium and radiation dose in Gulf War veterans with embedded shrapnel.

Mobilization of uranium (U) from embedded depleted uranium (DU) metal fragments in Gulf War veterans presents a unique exposure scenario for this radioactive and nephrotoxic metal. In a cohort of exposed veterans, urine U concentrations measured every two years since 1993 persistently range from 10 to over 500 times normal levels, indicating that embedded DU fragments give rise to chronic, systemic exposure to U. Health effects of this exposure are not fully known, but clinical surveillance of these soldiers continues in light of animal studies showing that U released from implanted DU pellets results in tissue accumulation of U.

Biological monitoring and surveillance results of Gulf War I veterans exposed to depleted uranium.

Objective: To relate medical surveillance outcomes to uranium biomonitoring results in a group of depleted uranium (DU)-exposed, Gulf War I veterans.

Methods: Thirty-two veterans of Gulf War I who were victims of 'friendly fire' involving DU weapons, in whom exposure assessment can accurately be measured, had urine uranium concentrations determined using ICP-MS technology. Clinical laboratory parameters were measured and related to urine uranium concentrations.

Health effects of depleted uranium on exposed Gulf War veterans: a 10-year follow-up.

Medical surveillance of a group of U.S. Gulf War veterans who were victims of depleted uranium (DU) "friendly fire" has been carried out since the early 1990s.

Efficacy of laser debridement with autologous split-thickness skin grafting in promoting improved healing of deep cutaneous sulfur mustard burns.

The consequences of receiving a cutaneous sulfur mustard (SM) burn are prolonged wound healing and secondary infection. This study was undertaken to find a treatment that promotes quick healing with few complications and minimal disfigurement. Multiple deep SM burns (4 cm diameter) were generated on the ventrum of weanling pigs and treated at 48 h.

Bioengineering methods employed in the study of wound healing of sulphur mustard burns.

Background/purpose: Sulphur mustard (SM) is a potent incapacitating chemical warfare agent that remains a threat to war fighters and civilians worldwide. SM lesions may require weeks or months to heal, depending upon their severity. This study was undertaken to find a treatment regimen that promotes speedier healing of deep cutaneous SM burns in a weanling pig model.