Research and analysis

Depleted uranium (DU): uncertainty analysis

This report (HPA-RPD-023) describes uncertainty analysis of the ICRP human respiratory trace model applied to bioassay data for DU.

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 1 June 2007

Documents

HPA-RPD-023: uncertainty analysis of the ICRP human respiratory tract model applied to interpretation of bioassay data for depleted uranium

Ref: ISBN 978-0-85951-591-7

PDF, 597 KB, 89 pages

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Details

Measurements of uranium excreted in urine have been widely used to monitor possible exposure to depleted uranium by personnel who have served in areas where depleted uranium munitions were used in conflicts.

A study was carried out to provide guidance on the most appropriate parameter values to be used in assessing intakes and doses from urine samples taken at 100 to 10,000 days after possible intakes, and to assess the overall uncertainty in the results.

As part of this study, information relating to the application of the human respiratory tract model of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has been reviewed, and from it, central values, ranges and distributions were assigned to parameter values defining respiratory tract deposition of appropriate depleted uranium aerosols, and its clearance from the respiratory tract.

Published 1 June 2007