Health investigations of depleted uranium cleanup workers

This short report has presented investigations and health risk assessments of cleanup workers on the radioactive decontamination and, approximately, environmental health perspectives for citizens living on surrounding terrains. The terrains, contaminated by depleted uranium (238U) ammunition during the NATO bombing of Serbia and Montenegro, have been cleaned up for four months. Team of 11 cleanup workers (expert members) had been medically examined three times: before decontamination, as a preliminary medical check-up; immediately after decontamination; and four years after cleaning up contaminated terrain. Total number of blood cells had not been changed, but variations of relative number (percentage) of cells in leukocyte formula were observed. Total number of DNA lesions was higher immediately after decontamination than before decontamination. Four years after decontamination number of DNA lesions decreased. However, number of damaged cells (lymphocytes contained chromosomal lesions) was higher in both medical examinations, immediately after and four years after decontamination. Conclusions. Illness or tumors caused due to 238U have not been developed in the group of depleted uranium cleanup workers during the investigation period of four years. Further hematological and chromosomal effects monitoring and health condition of workers are necessary. (author)