Meta-analysis of depleted uranium levels in the Middle East region

Highlights: • DU contamination observed in Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt. • DU contamination not observed in Algeria, Israel, Afghanistan, Oman, Qatar, Iran and Yemen. • Data on DU levels found in 11 countries. • Data on DU-related health effects found in two countries. • Correlation between DU contamination and health-related effects not found. -- Abstract: Since the first widespread use of depleted uranium in military in the 1991 Gulf War, the so-called "Gulf War Syndrome" has been a topic of ongoing debate. However, a low number of reliable scientific papers demonstrating the extent of possible contamination as well as its connection to the health status of residents and deployed veterans has been published. The authors of this study have therefore aimed to make a selection of data based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. With the goal of clarifying the extent of DU contamination after the Gulf Wars, previously published data regarding the levels of DU in the Middle East region were analyzed and presented in the form of a meta-analysis. In addition, the authors attempted to make a correlation between the DU levels and their possible effects on afflicted populations. According to results observed by comparing ²³⁴U/²³⁸U and ²³⁵U/²³⁸U isotopic activity ratios, as well as ²³⁵U/²³⁸U mass ratios in air, water, soil and food samples among the countries in the Middle East region, areas indicating contamination with DU were Al Doha, Manageesh and Um Al Kwaty in Kuwait, Al-Salman, Al-Nukhaib and Karbala in Iraq, Beirut in Lebanon and Sinai in Egypt. According to these data, no DU contamination was observed in Algeria, Israel, Afghanistan, Oman, Qatar, Iran, and Yemen. Due to the limited number of reliable data on the health status of afflicted populations, it was not possible to make a correlation between DU levels and health effects in the Middle East region.