More than a year ago the three editors sat down at a table and worked out a set of six chapter headings which they believed might serve, in turn, for each of the three sections of this handbook. (The reader will note a similarity in order of presentation and in emphasis.) However, as our editorial plans progressed it became apparent that for each element and for the element group, there were one or two special topics appropiate for that section alone. Accordingly, in the section on uranium the common pattern holds for Chaps. 1 through 6 which include: an introduction (Chap. 1), a discussion of the physical and chemical properties (Chap. 2), experimental data on animals (Chap. 3), ex­ perimental data on man (Chap. 4), the rationale and development of air con­ centration limits to control industrial worker exposure (Chap. 5), and the prac­ tical problems of applying such limits in the uranium industry (Chap. 6). Chap. 7 entitled "Uranium Mining Hazards" is the subject category which is special for uranium; the chapter brings up to date the account of an important occupational hazard which was first noted by GEORGIUS AGRICOLA (1490-1555).

Inhalt

Uranium.- Preface.- 1 A History of Uranium Poisoning (1824-1942).- I. Early History. Homeopathic Uses.- II. Toxicity of Uranium Compounds.- III. Experimental Nephritis; Kidney.- A. Pathology.- 1. Glomerular Injury vs. Tubular Injury.- 2. Glomerular Lesions.- 3. Tubular Lesions.- 4. Repair of Tubular Injury.- 5. Tolerance.- B. Age.- C. Anuria.- D. Casts.- E. Edema.- F. Diuretics.- G. Kidney Composition.- IV. Experimental Nephritis; Urine.- A. Glycosury and Albuminuria.- B. Urinary Nitrogen.- C. Kidney Function.- D. Urinary Enzymes.- E. Urinary Acetone, Acetoacetic Acid, Phenols, Organic Acids.- F. Urinary Sodium, Chloride, Potassium, Phosphate.- G. Acidosis.- V. Effects of Uranium on the Cardiovascular System.- A. Capillary Permeability.- B. Vessel Tone.- C. Blood Pressure.- D. Cardiac Hypertrophy.- E. Arterial Lesions.- F. Heart Rate.- G. Hemoglobin.- H. Viscosity.- I. Coagulation.- J. Hemolysis.- K. Toxic Serum Factor.- VI. Effects of Uranium on the Blood Chemistry.- A. Nitrogen.- 1. Non-protein Nitrogen.- 2. Rest-N.- 3. Urea-N.- 4. Azotemia.- 5. Uric Acid.- 6. Creatinine.- 7. Ammonia.- 8. Serine.- 9. Xanthoproteic Reaction.- 10. Indican.- 11. Diazo-reacting Substances.- 12. Index of Pathological Change.- B. Acidosis.- C. Other Blood Constituents.- 1. Chloride.- 2. Sodium.- 3. Potassium.- 4. Magnesium.- 5. Calcium.- 6. Sulfate.- 7. Phosphate.- 8. Cholesterol.- 9. Lipids.- 10. Phenols.- 11. Sugar.- 12. Freezing Point.- 13. Refractive Index.- VII. Effects of Uranium on the Liver.- A. Pathology.- B. Biochemistry.- C. Biliary Excretion.- D. Fecal Analysis.- VIII. Effects of Uranium on Muscle.- IX. Effects of Uranium on the Nervous System.- X. Effects of Uranium on Enzymes.- XI. Selected Metabolic Effects of Uranium.- XII. Treatment of Uranium Poisoning.- XIII. Tissue Contents of Uranium in Uranium Poisoning.- References.- 2 Physical and Chemical Properties of Uranium.- I. Physical Properties of Atomic Uranium.- A. Extra-nuclear Properties.- B. Nuclear Properties.- 1. Isotopes.- 2. Nuclear Fission.- a) The Probability of Fission.- b) The Energy Released in Fission.- c) Fission Product Mass Distribution.- d) Charge Distribution.- e) Fission Neutrons.- II. The Chemistry of Uranium.- A. Metallic Uranium.- B. Compounds of Uranium and Non-Metallic Elements.- 1. Uranium Hydride.- 2. Group IIIA - Uranium Borides.- 3. Group IVA - Uranium Carbides and Silicides.- a) Uranium Carbides.- b) Uranium Silicides.- 4. Group VA - Uranium Nitrides, Phosphides, and Arsenides.- a) Uranium Nitrides.- b) Uranium Phosphides.- c) Uranium Arsenides.- 5. Group VIA - Uranium Oxides, Sulfides, Selenides, and Tellurides.- a) Uranium Oxides.- b) Uranium Sulfides.- c) Uranium Selenides.- d) Uranium Tellurides.- 6. Group VIIA - Uranium Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides, and Iodides.- a) Uranium Fluorides.- b) Uranium Chlorides.- c) Uranium Bromides.- d) Uranium Iodides.- e) Uranium Mixed Halides and Uranium (IV) Borohydride.- f) Uranium Oxyhalides.- g) Uranium Nitrogen Halides.- C. Uranium Salts, Hydrated Oxides, Uranates, and Peruranates.- 1. Uranium (IV) Salts.- a) Carbonates.- b) Sulfates.- c) Oxalates.- 2. Uranium (VI) Salts.- a) Carbonates.- b) Nitrates.- c) Phosphates.- d) Sulfates.- e) Uranyl Halides.- f) Acetates.- g) Oxalates.- 3. Uranium Oxide Hydrates.- 4. Uranates and Peruranates.- D. Uranium in Solution.- 1. Aqueous Solution.- a) Oxidation States.- b) Hydrolysis.- c) Complex Ion Formation.- 2. Physiological Systems.- a) Complexing Agents.- b) Prevention and Therapy of Uranium Poisoning.- E. References to the Analytical Chemistry of Uranium.- References.- 3 Animal Experiments.- I. Introduction.- II. Criteria of Uranium Toxicity in Experimental Animals.- III. Parenteral Administration.- IV. Oral Toxicity of Uranium.- A. Thirty Day Feeding Experiments.- B. One- and Two-year Feeding Experiments.- V. Uranium Compounds Applied to the Skin.- VI. Uranium Compounds Applied to the Eye.- VII. Respiratory Tract Exposure to Uranium Dusts.- A. Studies by Means of Tracheal Insufflation.- B. Toxicity Following Inhalation.- 1. 30-day Studies.- 2. Studies of Toxicity Following Inhalation of Uranium Compounds for One Year.- a) Uranyl Nitrate Hexahydrate.- b) Uranium Hexafluoride.- c) Uranium Tetrachloride.- d) Uranium Dioxide.- e) Uranium Tetrafluoride.- 3. Studies of Toxicity Following Inhalation of Uranium Compounds for Two Years.- 4. Inhalation of UO2 for Five Years.- 5. Recent Inhalation Studies of Uranium Trioxide.- VIII. Distribution and Excretion of Uranium.- IX. Mechanisms of Uranium Action.- A. Entry of Uranium into the Body.- B. Transport of Uranium in Plasma.- C. Excretion of Uranium.- X. Toxic Action of Uranium on Kidney Structure and Function.- A. Morphologic Studies.- B. Functional Studies.- 1. Renal Clearance Studies.- 2. Proteinuria.- 3. Enzyme Studies.- C. Tolerance to Acute Uranium Poisoning.- XI. Attempted Prevention and Therapy of Uranium Poisoning.- References.- 4 Data on Man.- I. Introduction.- II. Planned Administrations of Uranium.- A. Intravenous Injection.- 1. The Rochester Intravenous Injection Experiment.- 2. The Boston Intravenous Injection Experiment.- 3. Experiments Using Uranium Injections to Evaluate Skeletal Metabolic Disorders.- 4. Interpretation of the Intravenous Experiments.- B. Oral Administration of Uranium.- 1. Use as a Therapeutic Agent.- 2. Experimental Ingestion by a Volunteer Subject.- 3. Hospital Study on Oral Absorption of Uranyl Nitrate.- 4. Interpretation of the Oral Experiments.- C. Inhalation of Uranium.- 1. Experimental Clearance of Uranium Dust from the Human Body.- 2. Interpretation of the Inhalation Experiment.- III. Occupational Exposure to Uranium.- A. Introductory Remarks.- B. General Industrial Exposure.- 1. "Soluble" and "Insoluble".- 2. Biological Monitoring.- 3. Postmortem Data.- C. Uranium Hexafluoride.- 1. Normal Exposure.- 2. Acute Overexposure.- D. Less-Soluble Uranium Compounds.- 1. Occupational Exposures.- IV. Natural Background Levels of Natural Uranium.- A. Uranium in Soil and Plants.- B. Uranium in Water and Foodstuffs.- C. Uranium in Man.- D. Use of Background Uranium Data to Estimate Metabolic Parameters.- 1. Absorption.- 2. Rate Constant for Whole Body Loss.- References.- 5 Protection Criteria.- I. The History of Development of Protection Criteria for Uranium in Air.- A. Acceptable Limits to Human Exposure.- B. The Meaning of "Maximum Permissible".- C. Towards an Occupational Air Standard for Natural Uranium.- 1. The Earliest Assessment at Oak Ridge (1947).- 2. The Emergency Guide at Rochester, N.Y. (1949).- 3. Early Rochester Results (1949).- 4. Recommendation of the Rochester Committee (1949).- 5. Recommendation of the Chalk River Conference (1949).- 6. The Tangled Reports of 1949.- 7. Recommendation of the Harriman Conference (1953).- D. Recommendation of the ICRP…