212
In evaluating the effects of uranium on human health and the environment, consideration must be given to both its radiotoxicity and chemotoxicity. For humans,
evaluation of radiological impacts can be based on calculations of effective dose
and comparisons with ICRP standards. For chemotoxic impacts on humans, nephrotoxicity is the main concern, and direct human experience from both occupational
and environmental contexts has been used in standards setting, notably by ATSDR
(2013) and WHO (2012). For evaluating radiological impacts on the environment,
the ICRP recommends an approach based on RAPs and provides both reference
concentration ratios and DCRLs that can be used in assessing the implications of
measured or calculated concentrations of uranium in various environmental media.
For evaluating chemotoxic impacts on the environment, reliance is mainly placed
on EQS values. These have been promulgated by national or regional authorities
and have tended to rely on evaluations of the available environmental and toxicological information identified as relevant to the specific situation or range of situations of interest. Generic, international recommendations, as are being developed
for radiotoxic substances, have not been developed for uranium as a chemically
toxic substance.
References
Al-Kharouf SJ, Al-Hamarneh IF, Dababneh M (2008) Natural radioactivity, dose assessment
and uranium uptake by agricultural crops at Khan Al-Zabeeb, Jordan. J Environ Radioact
99:1192–1199
Allard B, Kipatsi H, Torstenfelt B, Rydberg G (1979) Nuclide transport by groundwater in Swedish
bedrock. In: McCarthy GJ (ed) Scientific basis for nuclear waste management. Plenum Press,
New York, pp 403–410
Allard B, Olofsson U, Torstenfelt B, Kipatsi H (1982) Sorption of actinides in well-defined oxidation states on geologic media. In: Lutze W (ed) Scientific basis for radioactive waste management- V. Elsevier, pp 775–782
ATSDR (2013) Toxicological profile for uranium, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service. http://www.
atsdr.cdc.gov/
Ballestra S, Noshkin V (1991) Report on the intercomparison run: radionuclides in seawater and
collected outside Mururoa Atoll, IAEA/AL/044, IAEA, Vienna
Bosson E, Sassner M, Sabel U, Gustafsson LG (2010) Modelling of present and future hydrology
and transport-SR Site Biosphere, SKB R-10-02. Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB, Stockholm,
Sweden
Brunskill GJ, Wilkinson P (1987) Annual supply of uranium-238, uranium-234, thorium-230,
radium-226, lead-210, polonium-210 and thorium-232 to lake 239 (Experimental Lakes Area,
Ontario, Canada) from terrestrial and atmospheric sources. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 44(Suppl.
1):215–230
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (2007) Canadian soil quality guidelines for uranium: Environmental and human health. Canadian Council of Ministers of the
Environment
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (2011) Scientific criteria document
for the development of the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the protection of aquatic life:
Uranium. PN 1451. ISBN 978-1-896997-97-1
M. C. Thorne
In evaluating the effects of uranium on human health and the environment, consideration must be given to both its radiotoxicity and chemotoxicity. For humans,
evaluation of radiological impacts can be based on calculations of effective dose
and comparisons with ICRP standards. For chemotoxic impacts on humans, nephrotoxicity is the main concern, and direct human experience from both occupational
and environmental contexts has been used in standards setting, notably by ATSDR
(2013) and WHO (2012). For evaluating radiological impacts on the environment,
the ICRP recommends an approach based on RAPs and provides both reference
concentration ratios and DCRLs that can be used in assessing the implications of
measured or calculated concentrations of uranium in various environmental media.
For evaluating chemotoxic impacts on the environment, reliance is mainly placed
on EQS values. These have been promulgated by national or regional authorities
and have tended to rely on evaluations of the available environmental and toxicological information identified as relevant to the specific situation or range of situations of interest. Generic, international recommendations, as are being developed
for radiotoxic substances, have not been developed for uranium as a chemically
toxic substance.
References
Al-Kharouf SJ, Al-Hamarneh IF, Dababneh M (2008) Natural radioactivity, dose assessment
and uranium uptake by agricultural crops at Khan Al-Zabeeb, Jordan. J Environ Radioact
99:1192–1199
Allard B, Kipatsi H, Torstenfelt B, Rydberg G (1979) Nuclide transport by groundwater in Swedish
bedrock. In: McCarthy GJ (ed) Scientific basis for nuclear waste management. Plenum Press,
New York, pp 403–410
Allard B, Olofsson U, Torstenfelt B, Kipatsi H (1982) Sorption of actinides in well-defined oxidation states on geologic media. In: Lutze W (ed) Scientific basis for radioactive waste management- V. Elsevier, pp 775–782
ATSDR (2013) Toxicological profile for uranium, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service. http://www.
atsdr.cdc.gov/
Ballestra S, Noshkin V (1991) Report on the intercomparison run: radionuclides in seawater and
collected outside Mururoa Atoll, IAEA/AL/044, IAEA, Vienna
Bosson E, Sassner M, Sabel U, Gustafsson LG (2010) Modelling of present and future hydrology
and transport-SR Site Biosphere, SKB R-10-02. Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB, Stockholm,
Sweden
Brunskill GJ, Wilkinson P (1987) Annual supply of uranium-238, uranium-234, thorium-230,
radium-226, lead-210, polonium-210 and thorium-232 to lake 239 (Experimental Lakes Area,
Ontario, Canada) from terrestrial and atmospheric sources. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 44(Suppl.
1):215–230
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (2007) Canadian soil quality guidelines for uranium: Environmental and human health. Canadian Council of Ministers of the
Environment
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (2011) Scientific criteria document
for the development of the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the protection of aquatic life:
Uranium. PN 1451. ISBN 978-1-896997-97-1
M. C. Thorne