Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Depleted Uranium: Properties, military use and health risks
Auteur | I.Fairlie |
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6-05-1-00-21.pdf |
Datum | 2009 |
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