UMRC and Research Activities

UMRC is an incorporated non-profit research organization (with registered charity in the US and Canada). UMRC is associated with scientists and medical doctors in Europe, the UK, and other parts of the world. To ensure the independence and objectivity of its research, UMRC collaborates with university and other research laboratories.

UMRC is the only independent research group providing analysis for exposed individuals and populations. Often, individuals have been sick for many years and unable to get proper testing. They include veterans who were exposed during wars where depleted uranium (DU) munitions were used and civilians who have worked or lived near nuclear facilities.

Since 1997, UMRC has been conducting independent scientific research on internal contamination of radioactive isotopes including DU.

 
Objectives

To investigate the possible connection between the ongoing symptoms of exposed persons and the retention of DU in the body. Urine and bone samples are analysed using Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) and Plasma Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (PIMS). The testing process is challenging and very involved, requiring measurement of materials quantity at the picogram (10-12) level. Only a few laboratories in the world have both the equipment and expertise to undertake this work.

UMRC has developed methodology using state-of-the-art Mass Spectrometry (TIMS and PIMS) equipment that can identify and measure the four distinct isotopes of uranium (U234, U235, U236 and U238) and thus distinguish DU from natural uranium.

 
History of UMRC & Gulf War Syndrome

After the Gulf War in 1991, 24 veterans were referred to Dr Asaf Durakovic, a leading specialist in Nuclear Medicine, at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. The veterans had been directly involved with the clean up of DU contaminated equipment and tanks in Iraq. These patients received routine medical exams along with radiographic studies and nuclear medicine assessments.

Urine samples were sent to a radiochemistry lab in Boston which performed whole body counting assessment on the patients. Evidence of contamination by uranium isotopes was found. Serious health imbalances were found involving immune system, respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and severe kidney problems.

Some patients underwent several surgical procedures on their kidneys and urinary tract. By 1994 two patients had died of lung cancer and the remainder recieved no follow-up. The Boston VA Radiochemistry lab was closed and the study stopped in 1996. Official institutions have not undertaken any significantly objective research since that time. UMRC was formed in 1997 to help address the veterans' symptoms and continued suffering from multiple illnesses.

 
Findings & Presentations

The results of the pilot study using neutron activation analysis were presented at the STAR conference in New York September 1998.

To confirm the pilot study results indicating the presence of DU, a second study was undertaken using improved methodology and more sensitive TIMS equipment. The second study analysed the urine of 16 Persian Gulf War veterans exposed to DU; 60% showed significant levels of DU. Autopsy specimens of liver, lung, and bone tissue were also analysed. The lung and bone sample contained the ratios of uranium isotopes which indicate the presence of DU.

Dr Durakovic presented the research paper "Quantitative Analysis of Uranium Isotopes in Canadian, US and British Gulf War Veterans" at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine EANM Conference in September 2000, Paris. The Paris abstract is available on the UMRC website www.umrc.net. In November 2001, at the Radiological Society of North America RSNA conference in Chicago, Dr Durakovic presented an update of the research.

Typically the reporting procedure is:

UMRC issues a statement of test results to tested individuals for use by their physician and possible use in legal cases.

Laboratory findings are scrutinised by recognised statistical methods. Large-scale studies or global findings are submitted for publication in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals and/or presented at recognized scientific conferences.

One of UMRC's key goals is to assist other researchers and the medical profession in the diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals.

 
Summary

This research is important for three reasons:

1. To confirm or disconfirm internal contamination by DU to assist the patients and their attending physicians in diagnosing and managing their diseases.
2. To produce credible and reliable scientific evidence to understand and manage the effects of ionising radiation stemming from internal contamination by uranium and transuranium isotopes.
3. To advance the methods of investigating uranium contamination especially low level and long term exposures. This has particular relevance to people living near or working at nuclear facilities.

Presently, patients are not eligible for medical insurance and benefits, even though their sickness is severe and in many cases the medical prognosis is progressive deterioration. The lack of expertise in the health care profession and the scarcity of independent research in internal radioisotope contamination may prevent further investigation into possible links between many illnesses, such as cancer, leukaemia, immune deficiencies, ALS, collagen diseases and exposure to internal radioisotope contamination.

 
Next Step

Recently some of our DU positive patients have undergone chromosomal testing and significant aberrations were found. It is now essential to study the link between the chromosomal aberration data and the quantity of DU found in the urine and bones of the patients. UMRC plans to expand this research to include nuclear workers, civilians living near nuclear sites, DU test sites, and to civilians and military personnel in countries where DU munitions have been used e.g. Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan.

 
UMRC Scientists & Researchers

Dr. Asaf Durakovic, MD, Ph.D. Professor of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology
35 years research and clinical experience on radioisotopes
70+ published papers on the medical effects of radiation
Assisted with The Children of Chernobyl Project, Hadassah University, Jerusalem
200+ international invited lectures on nuclear and radiation medicine
Post-doctorate Fellowship, British Medical Council, Oxford, England Post-doctorate Fellowship, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, study of uranium and transuranic elements

Leonard Dietz, M.Sc. Retired research physicist with 30+ years mostly at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories. He was influential in development of Mass Spectrometry and assists UMRC in the development of methodology and interpretation of data. Mr. Dietz is also active in presentation and publication of research findings.

Other Partners Collaboration with University Research Laboratories in North America and Europe, who have been working with UMRC on DU testing and analysis since 1998.

Further updated readings :

Read also: Understanding UMRC's Research or download it as a pdf file here.