Understanding Uranium Toxicity

Dear Colleagues,

Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive heavy metal. It is a component of the earth’s crust and is widely present in natural environments, such as soil and water, as well as in foods. The daily intake of uranium is approximately 1 μg per person. This value is one-fourth and one-twentieth of those of toxic heavy metals, such as mercury and cadmium, respectively. The uranium levels in surface and groundwater are generally as low as the sub ppb. However, it is known that the chronic ingestion of uranium at higher levels via contaminated groundwater results in an induction of renal damage. Moreover, uranium is used as a fuel in nuclear power plants. The recent nuclear accident in Japan, following the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, has led to increasing public concern regarding the health effects of uranium.

This Topic, “Understanding Uranium Toxicity”, will cover the toxicological studies of uranium, from the fundamental to applied sciences, including analytical methodology, biochemistry, molecular biology, animal studies, in vitro assays, radiation sciences, environmental sciences, and epidemiological studies. Review articles are also welcome.

We hope this Topic will set the stage for transdisciplinary toxicology for uranium.

Dr. Shino Homma-Takeda
Dr. Sarata Kumar Sahoo
Topic Editors