Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Depleted Uranium: Properties, military use and health risks

AuteurI.Fairlie
6-05-1-00-21.pdf
Datum2009
Classificatie 6.05.1.00/21 (VERARMD URANIUM - MILITAIR - ALGEMEEN)
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

sanjeevim 28/1/09 11:22 2008 – Style 1 (RO)   FMCS_A_357064   (XML)   RefSty-(B CSE cit-seq)


Medicine, Conflict and Survival
Vol. 25, No. 1, January–March 2009, 41–64




Depleted uranium: properties, military use and health risks
Ian Fairlie*

Independent Consultant on Radioactivity in the Environment, London, UK
(Accepted 17 September 2008)

       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.
       Keywords: carcinogenic; depleted uranium; endocrine disruptor; Gulf
       war; munitions; synergism; toxicity; United Nations; U-234, U-235,
       U-238



Introduction
Depleted uranium (DU) is a matter of natural interest to Medicine, Conflict
and Survival, as it lies at the intersection of several matters within the
journal’s remit, including nuclear weapons proliferation, the impact of
warfare, adverse health effects, international politics, toxic agents, radiation
and radioactivity. In addition, the continued use of DU in munitions and
armour-proofing by the United States and United Kingdom is a matter of
controversy – not unfamiliar territory for this journal.
    DU is a waste product mainly from the production of enriched uranium
for nuclear weapons. It has been, and continues to be, used by UK and US
armed forces in recent conflicts in the Middle East1 and the Balkan region2,3.
    Many claims have been made of adverse health effects, including the
Gulf war syndrome, putatively arising from DU contamination during these
conflicts4. Uranium and its decay products have