Battlefield Use Of Depleted Uranium And The Health Of Veterans

Abstract

Depleted uranium munitions have been used in recent military operations in both the Gulf and the Balkans and there have been concerns that exposure to depleted uranium may be a cause of 'Gulf War Syndrome' and cancer clusters. We recount the properties of depleted uranium, its military uses and the situations in which personnel may be exposed. Following a review of scientific literature, the health effects of depleted and natural uranium exposure are described and the major outcomes of research into Gulf Veterans' Illnesses are summarised. We conclude that, although there is the potential for uranium exposures to cause renal damage or lung cancer, the risk of harm following depleted uranium exposure in military settings seems to be low. We advise on the management of casualties exposed to depleted uranium and suggest control measures that may be appropriate to protect personnel who provide casualty care.

Temperature-dependent mechanical behavior of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous tungsten

“…In addition, the BDT is an important consideration for structural materials; neglecting the BDT can have disastrous effects, such as the famous catastrophic hull failures of steel Liberty Ships during World War II [28]. Tungsten is an elastically isotropic, highstrength BCC metal considered for replacements for depleted uranium projectiles for tanks [29] and for divertors in Tokamak-type fusion reactors [30] and possesses a relatively accessible BDTT of around 400 K [31], making it an ideal material for studying the effects of increasing plasticity at small length scales. Synthesis of the 3DOM material as detailed here results in a nanocrystalline microstructure within the ligaments.…”

Elemental imaging of kidneys of adult rats exposed to uranium acetate

“…Depleted isotopic uranium has been applied in the Gulf and Balkan wars as heavy tank armor, armor-piercing bullets and missiles, due to its desirable chemical properties coupled with decreased radioactivity [1][2][3]. Thus, interest in the toxic effects of uranium has recently increased.…”

Depleted and Natural Uranium: Chemistry and Toxicological Effects

“…DU, although having all the chemical and biological properties of naturally occurring uranium, is significantly less radioactive. The high density of uranium, combined with low radioactivity, makes DU especially attractive for use in military armor and in armor penetrators, and was used recently during the Gulf and the Balkans wars (Abu-Qare & Abou-Donia, 2002;Bolton & Foster, 2002, Bleise et al, 2003. Civilian uses of DU include counterweights in airplane construction, shields for irradiation units in hospitals, and containers for transport of radioactive sources.…”