Depleted uranium: properties, military use and health risks.
This article describes uranium and depleted uranium (DU), their similar isotopic compositions, how DU arises, its use in munitions and armour-proofing, and its pathways for human exposures. Particular attention is paid to the evidence of DU's health effects from cell and animal experiments and from epidemiology studies. It is concluded that a precautionary approach should be adopted to DU and that there should be a moratorium on its use by military forces. International efforts to this end are described.
Independent Consultant on Radioactivity in the Environment, London, UK. ianfairlie@gmail.com
Ian
I
Fairlie
D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D014501:Uranium