Radioecological survey at selected sites hit by depleted uranium ammunitions during the 1999 Kosovo conflict

Lichens and Particulate Matter: Inter-relations and Biomonitoring with Lichens

“…Isotopic 235 U/ 238 U did not indicate the presence of DU particles in lichens either. Sansone et al (2001), however, reported on a large degree of variability in the concentrations of uranium activity in the surface soil. As DU was detected in lichens, their role as sensitive bioindicators of DU dust or aerosols, formed at targets hit by DU ammunition, was accentuated.…”

Depleted uranium and public health risks in the Balkan region

“…Soil samples collected in bombed sites displayed higher U concentrations with 235 U/ 238 U isotopic ratios lowered due to contamination with DU. However, it was clear that the DU contamination was limited to the sites of ammunition impact and could not be detected at short distance from impact points [2,3,5]. Samples collected in the soil layers under the impact holes were obviously contaminated, and some laboratories focused on the investigation of DU behaviour in these small contaminated spots.…”

“…All these waters contained natural uranium in concentrations that meet the WHO requirements for drinking water regarding uranium, i.e., were lower than 2 µg/L [9]. One laboratory reported however that water from two wells in the countryside, near a shelled site, showed traces of DU in solution [5]. This was attributed to DU projectiles that could be corroding in the soil nearby or even inside the wells.…”

Evaluation of the suitability of neural network method for prediction of uranium activity ratio in environmental alpha spectra

“…The activity ratio depends on the extent of the enrichment process, which has caused depletion in the lighter uranium isotopes and can be used for distinguishing natural from anthropogenic sources of uranium. For natural uranium, the 234 U/ 238 U activity ratio in soil typically ranges from 0.5 to 1.2 (Sansone et al 2001). The corresponding 235 U/ 238 U activity ratio is approximately 0.046.…”

“…Depleted uranium has lower 234 U/ 238 U and 235 U/ 238 U activity ratios. For an isotopic abundance of 0.2% for 235 U, these ratios become 0.18 ( 234 U/ 238 U) and 0.013 ( 235 U/ 238 U) respectively (Sansone et al 2001). Experimental determination of the activity ratios between 234 U, 235 U and 238 U are affected by uncertainties, the magnitude of which depend upon the accuracy and precision of the measurements of the single isotopes.…”