A Review on Toxicodynamics of Depleted Uranium

Depleted uranium (DU) is an important by product in uranium enrichment process. Due toits applications in civilian and also military activity, DU emerged as environmental pollutant.The exposure to DU can occur via external or internal pathways. In external exposure, mainlybeta radiation from the decay products contributes to DU toxicity. Internal exposure to DUis more important and can occur through ingestion of DU-contaminated water and food andinhalation of DU aerosols. There is limited information about health effects and mechanism ofDU after environmental exposure. Kidney is reported as the main target organ for the chemicaltoxicity of this metal that was reported in Persian Gulf syndrome. Alterations in behavior,some neurologic adverse effects, immunotoxicity, embryo-toxicity and hepatotoxicity wereobserved in chronic exposure to DU. Also, the increased risk of cancer was revealed inepidemiological and experimental studies. Several mechanisms were suggested for DU toxicitysuch as oxidative stress, mitochondrial toxicity and inflammation. In fact, uranium like othertoxic heavy metals can induce oxidative damage and apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway andinflammatory response. In this review, we have discussed the kinetic of DU including sourceand exposure pathway. In addition, the health effects of DU and also its toxic mechanism havebeen highlighted.