Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Depleted uranium and related articles/Nephrotoxicity
To what extent is uranium nephrotoxic?
The LD50/30 of uranyl nitrate (which has less uranyl ion per unit of mass than uranium trioxide) is 2.1 mg/kg in rabbits, 12.6 mg/kg in dogs, 48 mg/kg in rats, and 51 mg/kg in guinea pigs and albino mice (Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry, 8th edition, English translation (1982) vol. U-A7, pp. 312-322.) --James S. 08:07, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
- Depends on the dose and solubility of uranium in the exposure.
- Nephrotoxic effects are less important in insoluble compound exposures.
- Nephrotoxicity is less important (though detectable) in chronic exposures.
- Nephrotoxicity is very important in acute exposures to soluble uranium compounds.
- Nephrons aren't especially suseptible to uranium toxicity, based on a given uranium concentration. But because the kidneys concentrate the urine (and with it the uranium)they are probably the most sensitive and likely to fail organ in a large acute exposure to soluble uranium compounds.
- At small exposures, no pathological effects will be detectable
- At higher doses, transient effects will be detectable. (confirmed by small human trials of dubious ethicality)
- At yet higher doses, permanent renal damage will occur. (based on animal models)
- At higher yet doses, renal failure and death will occur. (based on animal models)
- Mice exposed dermally to massive amounts of uranium trioxide die of renal failure.