Depleted uranium: an overview of its properties and health effects.
There has been much debate about the use of depleted uranium in the Gulf War and its health effects on United States and European war veterans. However, studies on the impact of this radioactive substance on the residents of the surrounding Gulf region are far from adequate. Depleted uranium introduces large quantities of radioactive material that is hazardous to biological organisms, continues to decay for millennia and is able to travel tens of kilometres in air. If depleted uranium were used in the Gulf War, its impact on the health of people in the area would have been considerable. This review of depleted uranium--its origin, properties, uses and effects on the human environment and health--aims to trigger further research on this subject.
Shawky
S
S
Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D001610:Beta Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011851:Radioactivity; D011874:Radiometry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014501:Uranium / Q000506:poisoning*; D014857:Warfare
D011850:Radioactive Waste; D014501:Uranium