Chemical and radiological toxicity of uranium compounds
- Authors: Gudkov S.V.1,2,3, Chernikov A.V.1, Bruskov V.I.1
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Affiliations:
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics
- Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute (MONIKI)
- Lobachevskii Nizhny Novgorod State University
- Issue: Vol 86, No 6 (2016)
- Pages: 1531-1538
- Section: Selected articles originally published in Russian in Rossiiskii Khimicheskii Zhurnal (Russian Chemistry Journal)
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1070-3632/article/view/215611
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1070363216060517
- ID: 215611
Cite item
Abstract
Studies into the effects from environmental pollution by uranium compounds have been overviewed. Analysis of the impact of uranium oxides resulted from military operations using armor-piercing shells made of depleted uranium shows a predominance of chemical toxicity caused by the strong oxidizing power of uranyl ions. They induce oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species. As a result, oxidative damage to biomolecules and disruption of metabolic processes occur. Oxidative DNA damage causes long-term genotoxic effects in the form of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and other pathologies. The necessity of prohibiting the use of depleted uranium shells as chemical weapons of mass destruction has been substantiated.
About the authors
S. V. Gudkov
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics; Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute (MONIKI); Lobachevskii Nizhny Novgorod State University
Author for correspondence.
Email: S_makariy@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow oblast, 142290; ul. Shchepkina 61/2, Moscow, 129110; pr. Gagarina 23, Nizhny Novgorod, 603950
A. V. Chernikov
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics
Email: S_makariy@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow oblast, 142290
V. I. Bruskov
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics
Email: S_makariy@rambler.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Institutskaya 3, Pushchino, Moscow oblast, 142290