The Chemistry and Toxicology of Depleted Uranium

Abstract

Natural uranium is comprised of three radioactive isotopes: 238 U, 235 U, and 234 U. Depleted uranium (DU) is a byproduct of the processes for the enrichment of the naturally occurring 235 U isotope. The world wide stock pile contains some 1½ million tons of depleted uranium. Some of it has been used to dilute weapons grade uranium (~90% 235 U) down to reactor grade uranium (~5% 235 U), and some of it has been used for heavy tank armor and for the fabrication of armor-piercing bullets and missiles. Such weapons were used by the military in the Persian Gulf, the Balkans and elsewhere. The testing of depleted uranium weapons and their use in combat has resulted in environmental contamination and human exposure. Although the chemical and the toxicological behaviors of depleted uranium are essentially the same as those of natural uranium, the respective chemical forms and isotopic compositions in which they usually occur are different. The chemical and radiological toxicity of depleted uranium can injure biological systems. Normal functioning of the kidney, liver, lung, and heart can be adversely affected by depleted uranium intoxication. The focus of this review is on the chemical and toxicological properties of depleted and natural uranium and some of the possible consequences from long term, low dose exposure to depleted uranium in the environment.

Concentration of uranium in human cancerous tissues of Southern Iraqi patients using fission track analysis

“…The cause behind such results can be attributed to the high levels of uranium contamination in the region of southern Iraq as a result of military activities during the Gulf Wars which led to the exposure of individuals to high levels of radioactive pollution [1,2]. From Table 2, it was found that observed uranium concentrations in kidney were widely scattered and the average uranium concentration (6.51 lg kg -1 ) for abnormal tissues and (4.11 lg kg -1 ) for normal tissues was higher than those in the other abnormal and normal soft tissues, because the kidney is one of the principle sites of uranium deposition in the body [34]. This finding is in agreement with those of other researchers [32,35].…”

Unsafe drinking water quality in remote Western Australian Aboriginal communities

“…Most commonly, inorganic soluble uranium salts are uranyl nitrate, uranyl fluoride, uranium tetrachloride, uranyl acetate, and sulphate. Uranium dissolves readily in hydrochloric acid and nitric acid but slowly in sulphuric acid (Katz, ). Combustion of fossil fuels may result in formation of NOx and SOx gases, which dissolve in rain drops and form nitric and sulphuric acid.…”

Depleted Uranium and Its Effects on Humans

“…In general, it appears that imbedded DU is not a reproductive or developmental hazard. However, the elevated heart masses of the first-and second-generation offspring suggest it may be precautionary to not totally discount the possibility of teratogenic effects [48,49]. The results of another study suggest that implantation of up to 20 DU pellets of 1 × 2 mm size in rats for approximately 21% of their adult lifespan does not have an adverse impact on male reproductive success, sperm concentration, or sperm velocity [50] and on their general health and neurobehavioral capacities [51].…”