Toxicological aspects of depleted uranium

Abstract

Summary Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process and has been used for decades in different applications. Recently depleted uranium is used as an anti-armour munition because of its profitable physical properties. One of these, the ability to ignite and burn at very high temperatures, may result in the formation of an aerosol of very small uranium oxide clusters, which may be inhaled. It is alleged that these particles represent a new battlefield hazard because of the radioactivity and chemical toxicity of uranium.