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Depleted uranium (DU)

What is Depleted Uranium?

The misnamed 'Depleted' Uranium is left after enriched uranium is separated from natural uranium in order to produce fuel for nuclear reactors. During this process, the fissionable isotope Uranium 235 is separated from uranium. The remaining uranium, which is 99.8% uranium 238 is misleadingly called 'depleted uranium'. While the term 'depleted' implies it isn't particularly dangerous, in fact, this waste product of the nuclear industry is 'conveniently' disposed of by producing deadly weapons.

Depleted uranium is chemically toxic. It is an extremely dense, hard metal, and can cause chemical poisoning to the body in the same way as can lead or any other heavy metal. However, depleted uranium is also radiologically hazardous, as it spontaneously burns on impact, creating tiny aerosolised glass particles which are small enough to be inhaled. These uranium oxide particles emit all types of radiation, alpha, beta and gamma, and can be carried in the air over long distances. Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.5 billion years, and the presence of depleted uranium ceramic aerosols can pose a long term threat to human health and the environment.

Depleted Uranium World Map of Contaimation

A Two Part Warning to the Citizens for the World: "Do Not Use Depleted Uranium Munitions Again"During the Gulf War in 1991, US and UK forces used a new weapon against Iraq. This new weapon, the depleted uranium (DU) projectile, is radioactive. Unlike atomic or hydrogen bombs, it involves no nuclear fusion or fission, but nine years after the end of the war, adverse health effects from DU exposure continue to manifest among military personnel and civilians in Iraq where the fighting took place, and among US and British veterans and their families. As I traveled through the US, UK, and Iraq to cover this story, I was confronted at every turn by the sad and frightening spectre of

The Human Cost of Depleted Uranium 6 part special report 46 articles printed in The Chugoku Shimbun (Hiroshima, Japan)

Depleted Uranium Watch - Good Resource

What is DU ?

Depleted Uranium - Guardian Special Report (UK)

Issues on the Use and Effects of Depleted Uranium Weapons (Malaysia)

Review of Radioactivity, Military Use, & Health Effects of Depleted Uranium (US)

Media Articles open in new window

A 'Silver Bullet's' Toxic Legacy

Hot stuff, chilling danger: Cold War leftovers sow seeds of worry

Iraqi cancers, birth defects blamed on U.S. depleted uranium

Three Sites Remain Radioactive from Bosnian WarChildren at Risk from Uranium in Army Shells
Depleted Uranium May Cause Liver DamageIraq sees 12 fold increase in cancer, depleted uranium cited
The Trail of a Bullet
Have we been DUP'd to think Depleted Uranium Penetrators (DUPs) are acceptable weapons of war
WISE Uranium Project
Campaign Against Depleted Uranium
Depleted Uranium in the Gulf (II) DoD site
Vieques Residents Alarmed by Depleted Uranium Reports
Pentagon 'knew Nato shells contained dangerous nuclear waste'
Discounted Casualties - The Human Cost of Depleted Uranium
Depleted Uranium Ammunition page
Campaign against depleted uranium weapons

Depleted Uranium Controversy
 Yahoo Coverage
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