Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter discusses depleted uranium (DU) as technologically enhanced natural radiation (TENR) and its impacts. It is well known that there are insoluble uranium oxide particles in uranium mines and in facilities that process nuclear fuels. However, the pyrophoric behavior of metallic uranium particles may produce small hot dust particles, which if inhaled may incur internal localized alpha radiation doses in addition to the uranium chemical toxicity. When DU is used as shielding in casks for a number of materials, including spent fuel or high-level waste, there is scant possibility of forming hot dust particles. However, DU is used to pierce armor plating in cruise missiles and in the armor of tanks, which may lead to the pyrophoric behavior of metallic uranium in the event of battle. In such cases, DU may become a toxic as well as a radiological problem. Some reports indicate that in DU used for military purposes, there are trace contaminants at the parts per billion levels of neptunium, plutonium, americium, technetium-99, and uranium-236.
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