Although (click here) human experience with uranium spans more than 200 years, the
LD50 for acute intake in humans has not been well established. Large
acute doses of uranium can produce death from chemical toxicity in rats,
guinea pigs, and other small experimental animals, with variation in
sensitivity among species. However, there has never been a death
attributable to uranium poisoning in humans, and humans seem to be less
sensitive to both acute and chronic toxic effects of uranium than other
mammalian species studied. Highly relevant data on uranium toxicity in
humans are available from the experience of persons administered large
doses of uranium for therapy of diabetes and from acute accidental
inhalation intakes. Although the data on which to establish oral and
inhalation acute LD50 for uranium in humans are sparse, they are
adequate to conclude that the LD50 for oral intake of soluble uranium
compounds exceeds several grams of uranium and is at least 1.0 g for
inhalation intakes. For intakes of uranium compounds of lesser
solubility, acute LD50 values are likely to be significantly greater. It
is suggested that 5 g be provisionally considered the acute oral LD50
for uranium in humans. For inhalation intakes of soluble compounds of
uranium, 1.0 g of uranium is proposed as the provisional acute
inhalation LD50.
Even Dick Cheney would approve of this method.
Even Dick Cheney would approve of this method.