This paper is highly relevant to the discussion of whether depleted uranium
caused the excess of leukemia cases in Kososvo.  It shows that chemical
exposure to uranium damages chromosomes.  These effects were not due to the
radioactivity of uranium.   Compunds that damage chromosomes ("clastogens")
are frequently carcinogens.


Br J Ind Med 1991 Feb;48(2):98-102

A cytogenetic study of men occupationally exposed to uranium.

Martin F, Earl R, Tawn EJ

Geoffrey Schofield Cytogenetics Laboratory, British Nuclear Fuels
Plc-Sell-field-Seascale, Cumbria.

Blood lymphocyte cultures from two groups of workers occupationally exposed
to uranium were examined for asymmetrical chromosome aberrations and sister
chromatid exchanges (SCEs). Significant increases in both cytogenetic
endpoints were seen. For dicentrics this appeared to be particularly
associated with exposure to soluble uranium. The external radiation exposure
experienced by these men was insufficient to explain the increase in
dicentrics, and irradiation of lymphocytes by internally deposited uranium
would have been minimal. As the SCEs were also raised, the genotoxic effect
is likely to be due to the chemical nature of the compound. The increase in
frequency of dicentrics associated with smoking was greatest in the group
with exposure to soluble uranium suggesting some interaction between the two
clastogens. No such interactive effect was seen for SCE frequencies, in
which increases attributable to smoking were similar in the worker and
control groups.


***********************************************
Stuart A. Newman, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy
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New York Medical College
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