Internal Contamination (USUHS)
Abstract
Internal Contamination (USUHS): For the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences/Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (USUHS/AFRRI), the stated goal of the Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program is to determine whether the short- and long-term radiological and toxicological risks of inhaled, ingested, or embedded metals warrant changes in the fragment removal policies for military personnel and, in the case of internalized radiological hazards, to investigate treatment strategies to enhance elimination of these metals from the body. To that end, our current research priorities are to investigate the health effects of embedded military relevant metals with the aim of identifying a battery of biomarkers to indicate the potential of adverse health effects so that proper treatment paradigms, including surgical removal of the fragment, can be undertaken at the appropriate time. Results from this research will also inform military decision-makers as to whether the fragment removal policy for particular metals needs to be reassessed. In the event that these embedded fragments are radioactive, a thorough understanding of the biokinetics of the metal is essential. Treatment strategies to enhance the elimination of internalized radionuclides are also being investigated, with innovative approaches such as chemical molecularly imprinted polymers and dendrimer complexes at the forefront. Outside collaborations with private industry also provides opportunities to identify and screen novel countermeasures for internal contamination. Research findings are focused to advance the development and to produce the following: (1) effective therapeutics to enhance the elimination of internalized radionuclides; (2) chemically synthesized imprinted polymers with high specific metal binding capabilities (3) novel chemical synthesis and in vitro systems to determine cytotoxicity issues in order to minimize the use of animal models in the study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 241B_0602787DHA_2_0130_PB_2024
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