Global Contamination from Uranium: Insights into Problem Based on the Uranium Content in the Human Prostate Gland
Sofia Zaichick1,2Vladimir Zaichick1*
Affiliation
- 1Department of Radionuclide Diagnostics, Medical Radiological Research Centre, Kaluga Region, Russia
- 2Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
Corresponding Author
Dr. Vladimir Zaichick, Professor, Medical Radiological Research Centre, 4, Koroleyva St., Obninsk 249036, Kaluga Region, Russia, Tel: (48439) 60289, Fax: (495) 956 1440; E-mail: vezai@obninsk.com
Citation
Zaichick, V., et al. Global Contamination from Uranium: Insights into Problem Based on the Uranium Content in the Human Prostate Gland. (2015) J Environ Health Sci 1(4): 1-5.
Copy rights
© 2015 Zaichick, V. This is an Open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Keywords
Abstract
The problem of global contamination from uranium (U) is a difficult task. The present investigation was aimed to study the possibilities of using prostate tissue as a biological material for global environmental monitoring of U. The U content in non-hypertrophic prostate of apparently healthy 64 residents of uncontaminated territory was measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mean values (M  SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of U in prostate of all subjects taken together was 0.0049 ± 0.0014 mg/kg of dry tissue. In order to estimate the effect of age on the investigated parameter we used three age groups: 13-20 years, 21-40 years, and 41-60 year. Mean values (M  SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of U (mg/kg of dry tissue) in age groups were as follows: 0.0023 ± 0.0007, 0.0021 ± 0.0005, and 0.0077 ± 0.0026, respectively. For the first time statistically significant (p ï‚£ 0.05, t- test) and exponential increase of the U content in prostate tissue with age was observed. It was shown also that the U content in the human prostate is higher than a level of element content in the bone, skeletal muscle, liver, and whole blood. No significant inverse correlation between the U content and contents of other trace element in prostate was observed. Finally, it was concluded that the prostate is a target organ for U in human body and can be used as a biological material for global environmental monitoring of U.
