the toxicity of depleted uranium贫铀的毒性.pdfVIP

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7, 303-313; doi:10.3390/ijerph7010303 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 /journal/ijerph Review The Toxicity of Depleted Uranium Wayne Briner Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68818, USA; E-Mail: brinerw@; Tel.: +1-308-865-8196; Fax: +1-308-865-8980 Received: 8 December 2009 / Accepted: 20 January 2010 / Published: 25 January 2010 Abstract: Depleted uranium (DU) is an emerging environmental pollutant that is introduced into the environment primarily by military activity. While depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural uranium, it still retains all the chemical toxicity associated with the original element. In large doses the kidney is the target organ for the acute chemical toxicity of this metal, producing potentially lethal tubular necrosis. In contrast, chronic low dose exposure to depleted uranium may not produce a clear and defined set of symptoms. Chronic low-dose, or subacute, exposure to depleted uranium alters the appearance of milestones in developing organisms. Adult animals that were exposed to depleted uranium during development display persistent alterations in behavior, even after cessation