Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) 
Uranium Toxicity
How to Use This Course

Introduction

The goal of the Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) is to increase the primary care provider's knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to help in evaluation and treating of potentially exposed patients. This CSEM focuses on uranium toxicity.

Available Versions

Two versions of the Uranium Toxicity CSEM are available.

• The HTML version www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/uranium/ provides content through the Internet.
• The downloadable PDF version provides content in an electronic, printable format, especially for those who may lack adequate Internet service.
• The HTML version offers interactive exercises and prescriptive feedback to the user.

Instructions

To make the most effective use of this course.

• Take the Initial Check to assess your current knowledge about uranium toxicity.
• Read the title, learning objectives, text, and key points in each section.
• Complete the progress check exercises at the end of each section and check your answers.
• Complete and submit your assessment and posttest response online if you wish to obtain continuing education credit. Continuing education certificates can be printed immediately upon completion.

Instructional Format

This course is designed to help you learn efficiently. Topics are clearly labeled so that you can skip sections or quickly scan sections you are already familiar with. This labeling will also allow you to use this training material as a handy reference. To help you identify and absorb important content quickly, each section is structured as follows:

Serves as a “focus question” that you should be able to answer after completing the section

Describes specific content addressed in each section and focuses your attention on important points

Provides the information you need to answer the focus question(s) and achieve the learning objectives

Highlights important issues and helps you review

Enables you to test yourself to determine whether you have mastered the learning objectives

Provide feedback to ensure you understand the content and can locate information in the text

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Uranium Toxicity CSEM, you will be able to

Overview

• Describe uranium
• Identify where uranium exists in the United States today

Exposure Pathways

• Identify the most common route of exposure to uranium

Who Is at Risk

• Identify the populations most heavily exposed to uranium
• Describe who is at risk for uranium exposure

Standards and Regulations

• Describe the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for uranium for workers
• Describe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) for uranium in drinking water

Biological Fate

• Identify where uranium is most likely to be retained in the body

Pathogenic Changes

• Identify the mechanism by which uranium induces pathogenic changes

Physiologic Effects

• Describe the medical conditions associated with uranium exposure

Clinical Assessment

• Identify the primary focus of the exposure and medical history
• Describe the most typical biomarkers of effect

Treatment and Management

• Identify two primary strategies for managing uranium-exposed patients