Samira Alaani1, Muhammed Tafash1, Christopher Busby2, Malak Hamdan3* and Eleonore Blaurock-Busch4
Author Affiliations

1 Fallujah General Hospital, Althubbadh, Fallujah, 00964, Iraq

2 Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Ulster, Cromore Rd, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK

3 The Cancer and Birth Defects Foundation, Office 4, 219 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6DB, UK

4 Laboratory for Clinical and Environmental Analysis, Microtrace Minerals, Rohrenstrasse 20, D-91217, Hersbruck, Germany

Conflict and Health 2011, 5:15      doi:10.1186/1752-1505-5-15

Abstract

Recent reports have drawn attention to increases in congenital birth anomalies and cancer in Fallujah Iraq blamed on teratogenic, genetic and genomic stress thought to result from depleted Uranium contamination following the battles in the town in 2004. Contamination of the parents of the children and of the environment by Uranium and other elements was investigated using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Hair samples from 25 fathers and mothers of children diagnosed with congenital anomalies were analysed for Uranium and 51 other elements. Mean ages of the parents was: fathers 29.6 (SD 6.2); mothers: 27.3 (SD 6.8). For a sub-group of 6 women, long locks of hair were analysed for Uranium along the length of the hair to obtain information about historic exposures. Samples of soil and water were also analysed and Uranium isotope ratios determined.

Conflict and Health 2011, 5:15      doi:10.1186/1752-1505-5-15
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