Papers

Health Status of Slovak Members of Balkan Peacekeeping Mission Potentially Exposed to Depleted Uranium

Jana Buchancová1, Oto Osina2, L'udovít Mušák1, Mária Kernová1, Dušan Meško3, and Rudolf Pullmann4

1 Clinic of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, and Martin Faculty Hospital, Martin, Slovakia
2 Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Central Military Hospital, Ruzomberok, Slovakia
3 Department of Sports Medicine, Martin Faculty Hospital, Martin, Slovakia
4 Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Martin Faculty Hospital, Martin, Slovakia

Corresponding author: Prof. Jana Buchancová, M.D., Ph.D.
    Clinic of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
    Martin Faculty Hospital
    Kollárova 2
    036 59 Martin, Slovakia
    Telephone: 00421-43-41 32 836
    Fax number: 00421-43-41 32 836
    E-mail address: buchancova@jfmed.uniba.sk

CEJOEM 2002, Vol.8. No.1.:22–30

Key words:
Depleted uranium, serum creatinine, beta-2-microglobulin, blood lead, blood cadmium, chromosomal aberrations, smoking

Abstract:
Members of the Slovak KFOR mission (83 subjects), who had been on duty in Bosna and Kosovo with potential exposure to depleted uranium (DU), were clinically investigated (thorough clinical check-up, renal and hepatic functions, blood levels of Pb and Cd, and aberrant cell count in peripheral lymphocytes) after they returned home. According to the time lapse between their return and beginning of the investigation, two cohorts were set up: Group 1 (n = 59) with delayed beginning (2–18 months) and Group 2 (n = 24) without any delay. The latter were highly engaged in the elimination of ammunition remained in the Balkan. Smokers and non-smokers were separately evaluated. Of the results, the mean aberrant cell count amounted to 1.43%. No considerable genotoxic exposure was revealed in 86.75% of the total population studied, considerable and high exposures were found in 10.84% and 2.41%, respectively. No malignancy was observed at all. All of the medical and laboratory examinations yielded results within the range of normal values, except creatinine, which showed higher values (in 5 subjects over the reference limit) in Group 2. A long-term follow-up study has been started for all of the Slovakian members of the Balkan peacekeeping mission.

Received:  18 September 2001
Accepted:  13 May 2002
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