For All they that Take the Sword Shall Perish with the Sword-on the Radiation Hazard of The Use of Shells Containing Depleted Uranium | Biomedgrid

After the use by NATO forces of depleted uranium core shells in Iraq and Yugoslavia in the media, a discussion arose about possible radioactive contamination of the area and foci of cancer. Natural uranium isotopes are classified as long-lived nuclides. They are not dangerous under normal conditions. Uranium dust generated by a collision of an armor-piercing projectile with a tank armor or reinforced concrete object is toxic. This can contribute to the formation of cancerous tumors. Uranium accumulates in human organs (in the liver, spleen, kidneys). The World Health Organization “accepts” soluble uranium salts for ordinary citizens at a level of 0.5μg/ kg body weight or 35μg for an adult weighing 70kg. The greatest danger is a significant (by many orders of magnitude) decrease in the half-life of uranium nuclei (including with respect to spontaneous fission) in the event of an armor-piercing projectile colliding with an object.