Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium (DU) is a by-product of the industry that enriches uranium for nuclear applications. Heavier than lead, it has been used to tip armour-piercing weapons, employed in conflicts in Serbia, Kosovo, and both Gulf wars. Although it is mildly radioactive, its main hazard is as a toxic heavy metal, which can damage the kidney in particular. Concerns were raised in the 1990s that its use might affect the health of war veterans, and that it might be a cause of or contributor to 'Gulf war syndrome'.
DU can be tested for in urine samples. To inform a UK scheme to test for DU in Gulf war veterans, the IOM performed pilot studies describing the levels of uranium found naturally in civilians and in military personnel not exposed to DU. There have now been a number of surveys of potentially exposed combatants from several countries, and of residents of war areas. Overall, evidence for DU contamination is found rarely, and almost always from 'friendly fire' incidents. A few ex-combatants with embedded DU shrapnel excrete DU in their urine, but there is no evidence of any long-term health effects.
In 2010, the European Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) published a report including their opinion that:
- DU contamination in war zones is low, and not widespread;
- exposures of the general population are very low;
- additional health risks are not expected.
Opinion still differs on whether 'Gulf war syndrome' exists. However, if it's real, it's almost certainly not caused by DU exposures.
Our reports can be accessed through the IOM online Library:
http://www.iom-world.org/pubs/IOM_TM0508.pdf
http://www.iom-world.org/pubs/IOM_TM0503.pdf
and the SCHER report can be downloaded from their website: http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/environmental_risks/docs/scher_o_123.pdf
Below are details of IOM papers on uranium levels in urine samples:
Jones AD , Miller BG , Walker S , Anderson J , Colvin AP , Hutchison PA , Soutar CA. A normative value pilot study: Levels of uranium in urine samples from UK civilians. Environmental Research. 2007 104:216-23. Epub 2007 Apr 6.
Miller BG , Colvin AP , Hutchison PA , Tait H , Dempsey S , Lewis D , Soutar CA. A normative study of levels of uranium in the urine of British Forces personnel. Occupational and Environmental Med. 2008 65:398-403. Epub 2007 Oct 12.