Title: Comparison between uranium concentrations in urine samples from patients with kidney failure and healthy controls, Al-Muthanna Governorate, Iraq

Authors: Falah N. Oudah; Anees A. Al-Hamzawi; Muhammed A. Shaheed; Khaled A. Mohammed; Emad S. Taiyh; Ihsan R. Shia

Addresses: Ministry of Education, Al-Muthanna Education Directorate, Samawah, Al-Muthanna, Iraq ' Department of Medical Physics, College of Science, Al-Mustaqbal University, Hillah, Babil Governorate, Iraq; Department of Medical Physics, College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyiah, Al-Diwaniyah, Qadisiyyah Province, Iraq ' Department of Physics, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiya, Al-Diwaniyah, Qadisiyyah Province, Iraq ' Dhi-Qar Directorate of Education, Ministry of Education, Dhi-Qar, Iraq ' Ministry of Education, Al-Muthanna Education Directorate, Samawah, Al-Muthanna, Iraq; Radiology Techniques Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, Al-Ayen University, Nasiriyah, Thi-Qar, Iraq ' Dhi-Qar Directorate of Education, Ministry of Education, Dhi-Qar, Iraq

Abstract: The present study utilised the neutron activation method of nuclear track detectors (CR-39) to ascertain the uranium level in human urine specimens. This research investigation had two cohorts of male and female participants. The first cohort consisted of individuals with kidney failure, while the second cohort consisted of individuals without any diseases. Samples of urine from individuals suffering from kidney failure and healthy individuals have been gathered from Al-Muthanna governorate, located in southern Iraq. In kidney failure patients, the highest level of uranium was 3.53 µg/l for a 69-year-old male, while the lowest level was 1.61 µg/l for a 66-year-old male. In healthy individuals, the highest uranium content was 2.36 µg/l for a 30-year-old male, and the lowest uranium content was 0.53 µg/l for an 8-year-old female. The uranium levels in those suffering from kidney failure were found to be markedly elevated compared to those in healthy individuals. The impact was examined based on the uranium content with respect to age, gender and smoking patterns.

Keywords: nuclear track detector; human urine; kidney failure; uranium; Southern Iraq.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2025.150738

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2025 Vol.18 No.2, pp.93 - 107

Received: 16 Jul 2024
Accepted: 28 Aug 2025
Published online: 22 Dec 2025 *

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