Information On Depleted Uranium (Du) - Department Of Veterans Affairs

War Related Illness and Inju

ry Study Center

WRIISC

Office of Public Health

Department of Veterans Affairs

INFORMATION ON DEPLETED URANIUM (DU)

A R E S O U R C E F O R V E T E R A N S , S E R V I C E M E M B E R S , A N D T H E I R FA M I L I E S

W H AT I S D E P L E T E D U R A N I U M?

made with DU, will not result in

W HAT HAPPE N S TO T H E D U

exposure or pose a health risk. Even

O N CE I T’S I N T H E B O DY ?

Uranium is a metal that occurs

when DU munitions are fired close

naturally in the earth’s crust and

The very small DU particles breathed

by, there is not a health threat as long

is found in air, water, soil, and

in (inhaled) may settle in the lung,

as the metal stays out of the body.

food. We all have trace levels of

while larger particles caught in the

Uranium in our bodies. This natural

nose, throat, and upper respiratory

Exposure to DU only occurs if it gets

uranium is a weakly radioactive

track can be swallowed or coughed

into the body via metal fragments

substance. Depleted Uranium (DU)

up. The DU shrapnel that enters

that become embedded under the

is what is left over after natural

the body through wounds or

skin (shrapnel) or dust-like particles

uranium is processed. DU has

punctures may be taken out by

that are inhaled into the lungs or are

some of its radioactivity removed

surgery, or may need to stay in the

swallowed.

during processing. DU is 40% less

body due to where it is found. This

radioactive than natural uranium. The

is a decision best made between

Exposure to DU is the highest for

type of radiation released by DU does

an individual and their healthcare

service members who were in or on

not readily go through skin.

provider. DU shrapnel that stays in

tanks and other armored vehicles

the body is slowly absorbed into the

when the vehicles were hit by DU

W H AT A R E T H E S O U R C E S

bloodstream. The DU then leaves

munitions. These individuals were

O F D U E X P O S U R E F O R

the body through urine. The process

at the greatest risk of being hit by

S E R V I C E M E M B E R S?

of DU naturally leaving the body

DU fragments and of inhaling fine,

Because of its density and low

can occur for years. How long the

suspended DU particles, primarily

cost, DU is used by the US military

DU stays in the body depends on

DU oxides. In extremely hot fires

to make armor on tanks. DU is an

where it is, the DU particle size, how

involving DU munitions, very fine

excellent metal to use in armor to

much DU there is, and how easily it

DU particles can be created, which

protect service men and women. It

dissolves. While the DU taken into the

can then be inhaled and taken into

is also used to strengthen projectiles

body is moving through the body,

the body. Some of this fine DU dust

because DU munitions penetrate

some of the DU may settle in other

may settle deep in the lungs and

targets better. The first time DU was

parts of the body and may remain

stay there for a long time. If shrapnel

used by the US on a large scale was

in the bones, kidneys, and other soft

which contains DU enters the body,

during the Gulf War.

tissues.

it could also remain in the body for

an extended period of time. Service

H O W D O E S D U G E T I N T O

W HAT AR E T H E P OSS I B LE

members who entered vehicles hit

T H E B O DY ?

H E ALT H E FFEC T S FR O M

by DU munitions immediately after

D U E XP OSU R E?

“Exposure” to a substance means

impact to rescue wounded

that there must be a source and that

There are several theoretical

occupants and who entered vehicles

it gets into the body. DU cannot

concerns about whether there are

later to retrieve sensitive items and/

cause harm as long as it stays out of,

any long term health effects if DU

or perform salvage and

and doesn’t interact with the body.

stays in the body. Some Veterans

maintenance on the vehicles also

Just being near items made of DU,

are concerned about health effects

had potential exposures to DU.

including tanks shielded by or shells

from DU’s radioactivity. DU is not

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Information On Depleted Uranium (Du) - Department Of Veterans Affairs - 2013

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