Risk assessment of renal toxicity by chronic ingestion of soluble uranium

The chemical toxicity of uranium in the kidney is clearly demonstrated by a large amount of published data, and there is an actual tendency towards the diminution of the old threshold of 3 μg/g for the renal toxicity for members of the public. Taking into account the new uranium metabolic model, it is of interest to determine whether limits on intakes of uranium derived from limits on radiation dose provide protection against chemical toxicity of the kidney. the kidney burden for chronic ingestion is determined and we propose the toxicological limit for the public of 0,15 μg/g of the kidney. The chronic ingestion given by this toxicological limit shows that the annual effective dose limit of 1 mSv to radiological risk for members of the public does not exceed. The analysis revealed that the chemical toxicity should be considered in developing health protection standard for the public for ingestion of soluble natural uranium. The natural uranium concentration in the potable water in Argentina is two order below respect to the value corresponding to the toxicological limit proposed. It might satisfy a safety factor to drinking water levels according international proposals. (author)