Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
1431992 
Technical Report 
Industrial Hygiene Of Uranium Processing 
Eisenbud, M; Quigley, JA 
1956 
Yes 
AMA Archives of Industrial Health
ISSN: 0567-3933 
NIOSH/00156346 
14 
7 
12-22 
English 
13325976 
The health hazards of uranium (7440611) processing are reviewed. During the processing of high grade ores, rotation of personnel limits exposure to 3.9 rads per 13 weeks and saves costs over process shielding. Workers standing 2 feet from drums containing 25 percent uranium are exposed to 25 millirads (mR) per hour; workers operating an open forklift are exposed to 10 to 15mR per hour. The beta dose of uranium metal to hands is 235mR per hour. Radon (10043922) and its daughter products provide a lung cancer risk when they adsorb to dust. Dust is often generated during the cutting of uranium metal. Soluble uranium compounds may be toxic to the kidneys. Bone and urinary concentrations of uranium are proportional to exposure. Uranium is first eliminated from the soft tissues after 150 days, then more slowly from the skeleton with a 450 day half life. The authors conclude that uranium has a low order of chemical toxicity compared to other non radioactive heavy metals. 
DCN-144433; Health hazards; Occupational exposure; Toxic effects; Urinalysis; Chemical properties; Radiation exposure; Dose response; Biochemical analysis; Exposure levels; Radioactive metals; Workplace studies