| Agent Name |
Uranium and compounds |
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| CAS Number |
7440-61-1; varies |
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| Formula |
U, varies |
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| Major Category |
Physical Agents |
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| Synonyms |
Uranium metal: Uranium compounds; UN2979 (Uranium metal); |
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| Category |
Radionuclides |
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| Description |
Metal: Silver-white, malleable, ductile, lustrous solid (Weakly radioactive); [NIOSH] Soluble in H2O or dilute acids: uranium nitrate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, & acetate; Relatively insoluble: uranium dioxide, uranyl oxide, & uranium octoxide; [ACGIH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Enriched uranium is used as fuel in nuclear power plants and submarines. [Sullivan, p.1269] Mineral deposits containing uranium include pitchblende, uraninite, autunite, uranophane, and coffinite. Natural uranium contains over 99% U-238 (T1/2 = 4.47 billion years). Enriched uranium for commercial fuel contains 2-3% U-235 (T1/2 = 700 million years). Higher percentages of U-235 are used in fuel for submarines and in nuclear weapons (usually over 90%). Depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural uranium. It is used by the military for bullets, missiles, and tank armor. [EPA] Uranium ore is produced from underground and open-pit mines. From the ores, uranium mills produce yellowcake, which is a complex mixture containing 80-96% uranium. The yellowcake is used to produce nuclear fuel. [Pinkerton LE, Bloom TF, Hein MJ, Ward EM. Mortality among a cohort of uranium mill workers: an update. Occup Environ Med 2004;61:57-64] "The two principal natural isotopes are uranium-235 (0.7 percent of natural uranium), which is fissile, and uranium-238 (99.3 percent of natural uranium), which is fissionable by fast neutrons and is fertile." [NRC Glossary] |
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| Comments |
The BIER IV Committee of the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, found that "there is little convincing epidemiological evidence that serious renal disease has occurred in human populations as a result of chronic low-level exposure nor of increased rates of malignant tumors." [Sullivan, p. 1272] Uranium causes acute tubular necrosis in animal experiments, but the case for kidney disease in humans after chronic occupational exposure is unclear. [LaDou, p. 371] Acute renal failure in humans has been reported rarely. No chronic renal disease has been documented. [Rosenstock, p. 574] Studies of uranium and other underground miners in the 1950s showed increased rates of lung cancer in workers heavily exposed to radon decay products. [Rosenstock, p. 732] Absorption through intact skin may occur: Uranyl nitrate; uranyl fluoride; uranium pentachloride; uranium trioxide (uranyl oxide); and uranium hexafluoride; Urine concentrations are less than 0.02 ug/24 hours as background and 100 ug/L in workers exposed to at least 50 ug/cu m; [HSDB] "The toxicity of uranium varies according to its chemical form and route of exposure. On the basis of the toxicity of different uranium compounds in animals, it was concluded that the relatively more water-soluble compounds (uranyl nitrate hexahydrate, uranium hexafluoride, uranyl fluoride, uranium tetrachloride, uranium pentachloride) were the most potent renal toxicants." [ATSDR ToxProfiles] "Fourteen epidemiologic studies have been conducted of more than 120,000 workers at uranium processing, enriching, metal fabrication, and milling facilities. These studies overall found no cancer to be significantly increased." [Boice, p. 274]
Most Important Radionuclide: U-238
Source: Mined from natural deposits (99.3% U-238)
Half-Life: 4.5 billion years
Specific Activity: 0.00000034 Ci/gm
Decay Mode: Alpha, Spontaneous Fission
GI Absorption: 0.2% to 5%
Lung Clearance Half-Time: Days for UF6, UO2F2, and UO2(NO3)2; Weeks for UO3, UF4, and UCl4; Years for UO2 and U3O8;
Critical Organ: Kidney
Internal Toxicity: Very High
Annual Limit on Intake: 0.00004 mCi
Radiation Energy (MeV): Alpha 4.2 (75%); Alpha 4.15 (25%) + daughters;
Radiation Accidents: 1 accident involving 1 person exposed to U-235; 1 incident of "Meltings of Radioactive Materials"; [See Glossary for references.] See "Radiation, ionizing."
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR ToxFAQs - Uranium |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| Bioaccumulates |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.2 mg/m3, as U |
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| STEL (ACGIH) |
0.6 mg/m3, as U |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
0.05 mg/m3, as U (sol. compds), 0.25 mg/m3, as U (insol. compds) |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
10 mg/m3, as U |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other animal data: No grossly observable signs or symptoms were induced in mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, or dogs following the first day of exposure to 20 mg/m3 of UF6 (13.5 mg U/m3), UO2F2 (15.5 mg U/m3), Ucl4 (12.5 mg U/m3), or UO2(NO3)2�H2O (9.5 mg U/m3) [Wilson et al. 1953].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH. |
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| Explanatory Notes |
60% of soluble uranium is cleared by urinary excretion within 24 hours. 7 mg as an acute dose is the threshold for acute kidney injury. The National Academy set 3500 micrograms/liter of urine as the short-term exposure limit. [Gollnick, p. 744-6] |
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| Half Life |
Kidney: 1-6 days; bone: 300 days; [TDR, p. 1204] |
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| Reference Link |
Uranium | Radiation Protection Program | US EPA |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
4: burns readily |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: URANIUM COMPOUNDS URANIUM, ELEMENTAL IONIZING RADIATION
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