24 Jan. 2001

Depleted Uranium background information from Finland Summary in speaking-points form of the position of the Finnish MFA on the DU issue: According to expert opinions, there is no such scientific evidence currently available, which would establish a link between the radiation effect of depleted uranium and the leukaemia cases reported among the peace-keeping forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. However, since the use of depleted uranium munition in the Balkans has drawn extensive public attention and caused concern, it is very important to keep the matter under review and to conduct full investigation on the possible effects of the munition concerned. Finland welcomes the establisment of a working group for the exchange of in-formation as well as the meetings of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services Committee (COMEDS), which involve not only NATO members but also non-NATO contributors to KFOR and SFOR. It is also useful to exchange views on this matter within other international organisations. Finland considers the forthcoming UNEP study on environmental consequen-ses of the use of DU munitions in Kosovo an important step in the process of in-vestigation. Finland is proceeding to carry out medical examinations of the Finnish person-nel that has served or is currently serving in the area. This examination covers both civilian and military personnel. Finland considers that it would be advisable to refrain from the use of depleted uranium munitions until relevant investigations, including the UNEP study, have been completed. Summary of heavy metal determinations on biological samples from Finnish KFOR peacekeeping forces TYERVEYSLAITOS Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Biomonitoring Laboratory 24/01/01 At the request of the Ministry of Defence, the Biomonitoring Laboratory, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) determined the levels of certain heavy metals from a group of 167 Finnish KFOR soldiers stationed in the Balkan region for about one year. Blood lead was analysed from all of them, urinary cadmium from 164 persons, and both nickel and chromium in urine from 49 persons. The number of persons studied represents over 10 % of the Finnish forces stationed in the region and about 20 % of those who had returned to Finland after termination of their tenure of service. Blood and urine samples were collected in Kosovo in August 2000 through the Ministry and transported to the Biomonitoring Laboratory of FIOH. Written consent of the participants was obtained for the examination, and for information on health and life-style. The levels of heavy metals in the examined samples were low, and on the same level as the reference values for non-exposed people in Finland (see Table 1). The short stay in the Mitrovica area, from one day to two weeks, with one exception, did not (seem to) have an effect on the levels of the heavy metals analysed. In six persons the blood lead level was slightly elevated, 0.4 - 1.1 umol/l, compared to the Finnish reference limit for non-exposed persons, 0.3 umol/l. None of the samples exceeded the Finnish action level for lead, 2.4 |jmol/l. Four urine samples contained cadmium over the Finnish reference level for non-smokers, 5 nmol/l, but none exceeded the reference level for smokers, 10 nmol/l. Three persons whose cadmium values were 6-9 nmol/l were regular smokers. The concentration of urinary chromium in two persons was slightly higher than the reference limit for non-exposed persons, 0.01 umol/l. The nickel level in all samples analysed was the same or below the Finnish reference limit, 0.06 |jmol/l. Table 1. Summary of the biomonitoring determinations Blood Lead, umol/l 1 Urine Cadmium, nmol/l Urine Chromium, umol/l Urine Nickel, umol/l Number of samples 167 164 49 49 Mean value 0.19 2.6 0.01 0.01 Maximum value 1.1 9 0.04 0.06 Finnish reference limit of non-exposed people 0.3 5 for non-smokers / 10 for smokers 0.01 0.06 Biomonitoring action level 2.4 50 0.1 2 0.6 3 1.3 4 1 conversion factor to ug/dl is 20.7, 2 = electrolytic platers, 3 = manual metal arc welders, 4 = exposure to soluble nickel compounds This statement concerns only the exposure and not the health risk of the participants. Arja Kallio, Ph.D., Docent Chief of Biomonitoring Laboratory Department of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Finnish Institute of Occupational Health