Depleted Uranium
- Depleted uranium is used for tank armor, armor-piercing bullets, and as weights to help balance aircrafts.
- Depleted uranium is both a toxic chemical and radiation health hazard when inside the body.
Depleted uranium (DU) is the material left after most of the highly radioactive form of uranium (U-235) is removed from the natural uranium ore. DU has several military and commercial uses.
About Depleted Uranium
Naturally occurring uranium ore is abundant in nature and contains several forms of uranium called isotopes. All uranium isotopes are radioactive; however, only one of these isotopes, uranium-235 (U-235), provides the fuel used to produce both nuclear power and the powerful explosions used in nuclear weapons.
In the 1970s, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) began making ammunition and weapons out of depleted uranium (DU) because it is one of the hardest and densest metals known. DU was also used to create armor for tanks and as weights to balance aircraft. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was operating facilities that produced DU as a waste byproduct, making DU plentiful and inexpensive.
DU is still used to make ammunition and weapons. DU contamination from spent shells and shell fragments is a hazard at some military firing ranges.
In nature, U-235 only makes up a very small part of the uranium ore. Given its importance for nuclear power and nuclear weapons technology, U-235 is often removed from the natural uranium ore and concentrated through a process called uranium enrichment. Depleted uranium hexafluoride, also known as DUF6, is the material left behind after enrichment. Like the natural uranium ore, DU is radioactive. The most significant source of radiation from DU comes from alpha particles. Alpha particles don't have enough energy to go through skin but do pose a health risk inside the body. DU also emits some beta particles and gamma rays. However, the beta and gamma radiation levels from DU are too low to present a serious health hazard.
If DU is ingested or inhaled, it is a serious health hazard for two reasons. First, DU is toxic and can damage kidneys due to its properties. This is the most hazardous aspect of DU. Second, inhalation or ingestion of DU can cause damage inside the body due to, alpha particle radiation. It is important to remember, though, that DU is not often found in the air, except at industrial facilities where it is processed.
What you can do
Avoid facilities that use or process DU: DU is dangerous when it is inside your body. Minimize your risk of exposure by limiting your proximity to uranium manufacturing plants and firing ranges that continue to use DU in ammunition.
Avoid internal exposure: If DU gets inside the body, the health risk increases. If you work at or visit a location where DU is present, you can prevent exposure by following safety instructions and using recommended personal protective equipment.