Urinary uranium concentrations in leukemia patients as a biomarker of environmental contamination in Babylon governorate, Iraq.

This study presents a comparative analysis of uranium body burden among residents of Babylon Governorate, Iraq, through measurement of urinary uranium concentrations. A cohort of 30 leukemia patients demonstrated significantly elevated mean uranium levels (2.57 ± 0.11 μg/L) compared to 30 matched healthy controls (1.39 ± 0.12 μg/L), with this difference showing high statistical significance (p < 0.001). The research employed Fission Track Analysis with CR-39 detectors for precise uranium quantification. Smoking status emerged as a major determinant of exposure, with smokers exhibiting markedly higher concentrations across both study groups. Analysis revealed a positive correlation between subject age and uranium levels, consistent with established biokinetic models for chronic uranium accumulation. The persistent detection of uranium across both cohorts indicates substantial environmental exposure within the region, potentially from groundwater and atmospheric sources. These findings highlight serious public health implications and underscore the necessity for comprehensive environmental monitoring and source identification programs for radionuclide exposure in the region. The study establishes a clear association between uranium body burden and hematological malignancy that warrants further longitudinal investigation.