Depleted Uranium Shells

The RAC-GWVI report concluded that the combined effect of the above mentioned factors, but especially acetylchohne esterase inhibitors such as PB, otgano-phosphate pesticides and sarin nerve gas, may be the cause behind the syndrome, which was corroborated by animal tests. However, the Advisory Cormnittee did not declare the case closed and advised fiulher studies with an annual funding of at least 60 million from the US government. This story illustrates quite clearly how much effort and money is needed to understand complex medical-chemical phenomena and reveal the cause-effect relationships in the backgrotmd. 

---

A very dangerous fire hazard in the form of a solid or dust when exposed to heat or flame. It can react violently with air, CI2, F2, HNO3, NO, Se, S, water, NH3, BrFs, trichloroethylene, nitryl fluoride. During storage it may form a pyrophoric surface due to effects of air and moisture. Depleted uranium (the by-product of the uranium enrichment process, with relatively low radioactivity) is used in armor-piercing shells, ship or aircraft ballast, and counterbalances. Uranium is also used in making colored ceramic glazes. 

This section is included because residents, stakeholders, and regulators may overlook radioactive material. Many military sites used, stored, or disposed of radioactive substances, including the newer depleted uranium anti-tank shells, in addition to atomic bombs and demolition devices. Equipment is now available, that can make quick, accurate, and cheap surveys just to verify the absence of this hazard. 

The biological environment may be disrupted in many ways as a result of weapons technologies. Nuclear weapons production, testing, use, and disposal may release ionizing radiation shells hardened with depleted uranium also release ionizing radiation. Conventional and chemical weapons may release toxic substances... 

Dirty bombs, consisting of conventional explosive devices mixed with radioactive materials, or attacks on nuclear power plants with explosive weapons could widely scatter highly radioactive materials. Another example of a radioactive weapon is shells hardened with depleted uranium (DU), uranium from which... 

Loppi S, Riccobono F, Zhang ZH, Savic S, Ivanov D, Pirintsos SA (2003) Lichens as biomonitors of uranium in the Balkan area. Environ Pollution 125 277-280 Di Leila LA, Frati L, Loppi S, Protano G, Riccobono F (2003) Lichens as biomonitors of uranium and other trace elements in an area of Kosovo heavily shelled with depleted uranium rounds. Atmos Environ 37 5445-5449... 

The fuel is uranium dioxide mixed with plutonium dioxide (U02 - Pu02). It is contained in 103 subassemblies, each containing 217 pins, which in turn consist of a stack of sintered oxide pellets, S.S mm in diameter, in stainless steel cladding. The pins are assembled in clusters in a stainless steel outer shell, which also contains the upper and lower fertile blanket pins (depleted uranium oxide) and the upper neutron shielding. 

---