Measurement of Uranium Isotope Ratios in Keratinous Materials: A Noninvasive Bioassay for Special Nuclear Material

Hair, toenail, and fingernail are noninvasive, integrative biological monitors routinely used to assess mineral intake. − In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of distinguishing between exposure to natural, depleted, and enriched U by measuring the 235U/238U, 234U/238U, and 236U/238U ratios...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2016-09, Vol.88 (17), p.8765-8771
Main Authors: Brockman, John D, Brown, John W. N, Morrell, Jonathan S, Robertson, J. David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioassays
Depletion
Enrichment
Exposure
Feasibility
Hair
Isotope ratios
Isotopes
Keratin
Measurement
Monitoring
Nuclear engineering
Uranium
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Summary:Hair, toenail, and fingernail are noninvasive, integrative biological monitors routinely used to assess mineral intake. − In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of distinguishing between exposure to natural, depleted, and enriched U by measuring the 235U/238U, 234U/238U, and 236U/238U ratios in the hair, fingernails, and toenails of occupationally exposed workers and control volunteers. The exposure history of cases and controls to non-natural U was assessed through voluntary self-reporting using a simple questionnaire. The measured U isotope ratios and U concentration in the hair, toenail, and fingernail of cases were compared to a nonexposed control group. No difference was observed in the uranium concentration between the two groups. Significant differences between the cases and the control group were observed in the 235U/238U and 236U/238U isotope ratios but not the 234U/238U. This is the first time that hair, fingernail, and toenail have been demonstrated to be sensitive to occupational exposure to enriched and depleted U, a result with significant implications for proliferation compliance monitoring.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02144