Uranium Pollution of Meat in Tien-Shan

Abstract

Uranium in water, soil, fodder and food products (especially meat) wasstudied in areas of former Soviet uranium industry in Tien-Shan1950-1970. Uranium environment migration was very intensive inTien-Shan, due to peculiarities waters (upper and ground):hydro-carbon-calcium content, and low potassium medium. A content ofuranium in river-water from the areas was higher 30-100 times comparedwith rural regions of Russia. Lambs tissues (wet weight) contain: 1.2+/- 0.15 mg/g uranium in Min-Kush, 0.06 +/- 0.0002 mg/kg in Mailuu-Suu.Lambs skin, horn, hoof contained 0.183 +/- 0.007 mg/kg uranium. Meat ofdomestic animals was the only source of protein for local people. It hasbeen found that latent pre-illness was very wide spread in humanpopulation, but not registered in official medical statistics. Healthdisorders (neutropenya, monocytosis, weak function of liver) have beenshown by blood laboratory tests. There arc several unfortunate factorsin Tien-Shan region: pollution, alpine hypoxia, lack of iodine, proteinand malnutrition. All these factors can lead together to low weak healthof domestic animals and human.