Report: Effects of Depleted Uranium

The Institute of Medicine Publishes Report on the Health Effects of Depleted Uranium Exposure

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has published its updated evaluation of depleted uranium and long-term health outcomes in our service members titled, Gulf War and Health: Updated Literature Review of Depleted Uranium. The military uses depleted uranium (DU) in munitions because of its extreme hardness and armor-piercing ability to disable enemy-armored vehicles. It is also used in some U.S. tanks as armor to protect service members. Because of these special characteristics, the use of depleted uranium has saved the lives of countless U.S. service members. 

In response to a requirement in federal legislation, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requested that the IOM evaluate available research literature on the health effects of depleted uranium. The institute’s mission is to serve as adviser to the nation to improve health. It provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policymakers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large.

The IOM identified approximately 1,000 new articles published from 2000 to 2007 that were relevant to the health effects of depleted uranium, including epidemiological, toxicological, and exposure assessment studies. These articles had all been published since the IOM last reviewed the same subject in its 2000 report, Gulf War and Health, Volume 1: Depleted Uranium, Pyridostigmine Bromide, Sarin, Vaccines. In the current review, the IOM committee considered the new research, as well as those studies relied upon for the last review.

IOM reviewed the scientific evidence on the following health outcomes:

Cancers: lung cancer, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, bone cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, stomach cancer, prostatic cancer, testicular cancer

Non-malignant diseases: renal disease, respiratory disease, neurological effects, reproductive and developmental effects, cardiovascular effects, genotoxicity, hematologic effects, immunologic effects, skeletal effects

IOM concluded that there was insufficient evidence to permit a conclusion on the relationship between exposure to uranium and several health outcomes. IOM also stated: “For the health outcomes discussed in this chapter, the committee concluded that exposure to uranium is not associated with a large or frequent effect. The committee’s evaluation of the literature supports the conclusion that a large or frequent effect is unlikely, but it is not possible to state conclusively that a particular health outcome can not occur.”  

The committee reached its conclusions for several reasons. Some well-conducted studies had conflicting results, while others were not large enough to identify a possible health outcome of low frequency. Other studies were not of sufficient duration to identify some possible health outcomes because they take a long time to develop, such as cancer. In general, many studies were available for review for each health outcome. For example, there were 29 studies related to lung cancer. The full IOM report is available at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/4683/56994.aspx.

The DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to monitor those who are most highly exposed to DU as a precaution. The DoD has formal policies in place to monitor its service members for potential DU exposure. DoD also has training programs for personnel who could be exposed to the metal. Potentially exposed service members complete a DU exposure questionnaire, which is reviewed to assess their level of exposure. Those with the highest exposure level undergo urine testing for uranium. Personnel at lower risk may also undergo testing based on concerns of either the patient or the medical provider. Service members with confirmed positive results are offered a referral to the VA's DU follow-up program in Baltimore.

The Department of Defense has and will always take precautionary measures to limit the exposure of personnel to depleted uranium. When used with those precautions, its small risk to personnel is far exceeded by its ability to save the lives of service members in combat.