Scopus Research — anees ali hassan Al-Hamzawi

Uranium (U) is a heavy metal with chemical toxicity and radiological hazards. Chronic exposure, even at low concentrations, may contribute to serious health risks, including cancer. For this reason, it was necessary to measure the uranium content (UC) in blood samples of two groups of women (healthy and cancer patients) residing in the city center of Al-Muthanna Governorate. The Fission Track Analysis (FTA) technique with a CR-39 detector was applied to evaluate the UC in blood samples. Statistical comparisons between concentrations were performed using an independent t-test (p ≤ 0.05). The result illustrates that the UC in blood samples of the healthy women ranged from (0.74 ± 0.04 to 2.22 ± 0.04) with an average value equal to 1.14 ± 0.06 μg/l. In contrast, the UC for the cancer group ranged from (1.70 ± 0.04 to 4.22 ± 0.06) μg/l, with the mean value equal to 2.93 ± 0.05 μg/l. The findings revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in UC between the two groups, suggesting a correlation between the incidence of cancer in Iraqi women and elevated levels of UC in their blood. Preliminary observation showed higher UC among women working in the health sector (1.50 μg/l for healthy women and 3.59 μg/l for patients) compared to women in other occupations included in this study. Indicating a potential relationship between occupation type and increased UC. However, this association remains unconfirmed and requires further studies. © 2025 The Authors

Iraq has long suffered from environmental pollution due to past wars, specifically the first and second Gulf Wars in 1990 and 2003. Al-Muthanna governorate, as part of Iraq, was directly affected by these conflicts and has experienced environmental and epidemiological changes that may increase the risk of cancer in the region. For this reason, monitoring the alpha particles emissions in human blood and milk was of significant importance. This study aims to estimate the total alpha particle emission rate (Eα) in blood and milk samples of women residing in different environments (rural area and city center) of Al-Muthanna Governorate, using CR-39 detectors. The results revealed that the highest, lowest, and mean Eα values in milk samples from city center and rural areas were (1.63, 0.68, and 1.10 mBq/ml) and (1.59, 0.56, and 1.01 mBq/ml), respectively. The maximum, minimum, and average Eα values in the city center and rural areas blood samples were (2.05, 0.90, and 1.31 mBq/ml) and (1.61, 0.66, and 1.12 mBq/ml), respectively. The findings indicated that the Eα in milk and blood samples in rural areas were lower than in the city center, which may be attributed to the reduced anthropogenic and military activities in rural areas. © 2025 Tuqa H. Al-Zaalimiu et al.

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. Copyright © 2025 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

After the Gulf Wars in 1991 and 2003, as well as ISIS, Iraq's environment has experienced significant pollution and degradation, earning it a dubious classification as one of the world's most polluted areas, according to the World Pollution Review. This poses serious health risks to the local population, including a significant increase in female infertility. In this study, uranium concentrations were measured in blood samples collected from three groups: a healthy group (n =  20), primary infertile females (n =  29) and secondary infertile females (n =  11). Uranium concentration was determined by irradiating blood samples with a thermal neutron source (Am-Be) (3.024 × 109 n cm–2). Hormone concentrations in serum blood were measured using a Snibe Maglumi 800 (CLIA); the concentration of uranium in healthy females was at the rate of 0.712 ppb less than 0.810 ppb limit recommended by ICRP/WHO, while they were high for females suffering from primary and secondary infertility, at a rate of 1.149 and 1.148 ppb, respectively. The effect of uranium on female fertility hormones is of biological significance, especially when exposed to toxic or radioactive levels of uranium, this is a negative indicator of the toxic effect of uranium on female hormones, as there is a clear hormonal imbalance in the concentration of FSH, LH, β-hCG, E2 and progesterone, resulting the inability to get pregnant. One of the most common causes in recent years is the problem of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a high ratio in infertile females (primary infertility 16 % and secondary infertility 21 %) as a result of abnormalities in hormonal levels due to the radiological toxicity effect of uranium. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Background: The Iraqi ecosystem, particularly in the southern area, has been polluted due to human activity. Analyzing biological materials is the most common method for detecting the presence of toxic substances in the human body. Methods: Heavy metal levels of Pb, Ni, and Cd in urine specimens collected from individuals with renal failure and healthy individuals residing in Al-Muthanna province were measured by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Urine Specimens were collected from two cohorts of male and female participants: the group of individuals with renal failure and the group of individuals who are in good condition. The specimens of urine from both the group of patients with renal failure and the group of healthy individuals were taken from the Al-Muthanna governorate in southern Iraq. This governorate served as a focal point for extensive military operations throughout the Gulf War. Results: The concentrations of toxic substances (Pb, Ni, and Cd) in the urine specimens of the cohort of patients suffering from renal failure are 0.411, 0.197, and 0.113 mg/l, respectively. Concentrations of (Pb, Ni, and Cd) in the healthy group are 0.249, 0.101, and 0.0294 mg/l, respectively. The toxic metals found in urine samples can be organized in the following order: Pb > Ni > Cd. Conclusion: The findings indicated that the concentrations of toxic substances in specimens of urine from individuals with renal failure are considerably greater than those in the control group of healthy individuals. According to the findings, patients' incidence of renal failure may be related to the prevalence of harmful compounds in southern Iraq. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers. This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Background: The Iraqi environment, especially in the southern region, has been contaminated as a result of human activities. The detection of heavy metals in water samples is the preferred method for monitoring the toxic levels, which are very important for environmental protection and human health. Methods: Heavy metal concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) were investigated in water samples from Al-Muthanna governorate, southern Iraq. The selected water samples were taken from different sources of tap water and river samples from the Euphrates and collected from various locations: residential, agricultural, and industrial. Results: The mean values of Pb, Cd, and Ni in tap water samples are 3.76, 2.62, and 84.88 μg/L, respectively, while the corresponding element levels in river water are 11.21, 7.58, and 104.31 μg/L, respectively. Rivers water samples recorded higher levels of toxic metals than tap water samples. Concentrations of toxic elements in water samples from industrial locations of Al-Muthanna governorate are higher than in the agricultural and residential places. Toxic metals in water samples can be arranged in the following sequence: Ni > Pb > Cd. Conclusion: The levels of heavy metals in most water samples were above the permissible levels according to USEPA; therefore, it is recommended that the water samples should be regularly monitored for heavy metals to prevent the effect of heavy metals contamination in the human food chain. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers. This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Background: The simple and effective technique of fission track etch has been applied to determine trace concentration of uranium in human urine samples taken from two groups of male and female participants: cancer patients and healthy subjects are living in Dhi-Qar governorate, southern of Iraq. This governorate was the center of industrialization and the prior military activities especially during the Gulf wars in 1991 and 2003, and the abandoned weaponry is still present in these regions. The induced fission track registration was done using the CR-39 track detector. Patients with cancer were statistically significantly distinguished by significantly higher concentrations of uranium as compared with members of a control group, the mean value of uranium concentration for the cancer patients was 3.67 ± 0.16 μg/L, with the maximum recorded uranium concentration was 5.33 ± 0.25 μg/L (male, 75 years old, has prostate cancer) and the minimum concentration was 2.04 ± 0.07 μg/L (female, 7 years old, has leukemia cancer). While the mean value of uranium concentration for the healthy group was 2.80 ± 0.14 μg/L, with the maximum uranium concentration was 4.19 ± 0.23 μg/L (male, 73 years old) and the minimum concentration was 1.28 ± 0.07 μg/L (male, 7 years old). The results also showed a variation in uranium concentration according to gender, smoking status, and age. A gender comparison employed in the study showed that men had higher concentrations of uranium in them than female subjects and this may dawn from the difference in hormonal makeup of the body. While the smoking habit, it was found that persons who smokers, contained higher levels of uranium than those who does not smokers, demonstrating that smoking is the main route for uranium absorption. The finding indicated a significant of uranium excretion with age, which matches the predictions of theICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) uranium model. Based on these findings, it remains necessary for increasing targeted public health interventions, strictly monitoring the environment, and utilizing campaigns to avoid uranium exposure along with related complications in high-risk patient populations. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

A critical public health concern in Iraq is the high prevalence and detrimental effects of breast and uterine cancers among women. These malignancies pose a substantial burden on the national healthcare system. To effectively address this issue, a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to these elevated cancer rates is paramount. This study aims to establish baseline levels of uranium within affected tissues and investigate its potential association with the development of these cancers. Sample selection, a vital component of the research design, involved the inclusion of 16 controls and 14 case samples. Nuclear fission track analysis utilizing Columbia Resin-39 (CR-39) solid-state nuclear track detectors was employed to quantify uranium content within the collected tissue samples. Statistical analysis of the results revealed a significant difference in uranium accumulation between healthy and malignant tissue samples. The mean uranium concentration in healthy tissues was 3.080 ± 0.32 μg/kg bodyweight, while malignant tissue samples exhibited a higher concentration of 4.311 ± 0.33 μg/kg body weight. These findings highlight the importance of investigating uranium’s role in tissue health, potentially informing the development of diagnostic tools or therapeutic interventions for women’s health. © 2024, Thai Society of Higher Eduation Institutes on Environment. All rights reserved.

The incidence and prevalence of breast cancer in Iraq are alarming. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among Iraqi women, and its rates have been steadily increasing over the years. The exact reasons for the high incidence are not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The research objectives of this study revolve around two main goals. Firstly, the study aims to establish baseline values for the amount of uranium present in blood samples. Secondly, the study aims to assess the potential relationship between uranium levels in blood and the development of cancer. The investigation includes 16 blood samples from women diagnosed with breast cancer and 20 blood samples from women without breast cancer. The nuclear fission track analysis method using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors will be employed to analyze the uranium contents in women's cancer blood (CB) samples. The methodology adopted for this study involved utilizing the SPSS program to conduct a comprehensive statistical analysis. The results of the study indicate that there is a variation in uranium concentration among both the patient women and healthy women. The uranium concentration among patient women ranged from 3.259 ppb to 1.918 ppb, while among healthy women, it varied from 2.105 ppb to 0.59 ppb. These findings suggest that there may be a correlation between the presence of certain health issues and higher uranium levels. © 2024 Haider O. Essa et al., published by Sciendo.