DEPLETED URANIUM (DU)

WHAT IS DEPLETED URANIUM?

• Depleted uranium is a by-product from the

process of converting natural uranium for use as

nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons

• The only difference between depleted uranium

and natural uranium is that depleted uranium

is 40 percent less radioactive.

The major health concerns from depleted uranium
relate to its chemical properties as a heavy metal
rather than its radioactivity.

WHAT IS URANIUM?

• Naturally occurring element (mined from

the earth’s crust)

• Found in air, water, soil, and food

• Weakly radioactive

• Small amounts of uranium are consumed

and/or inhaled by people on a daily basis

RADIOACTIVITY OF DEPLETED URANIUM

Depleted uranium emits a small amount of radiation in the form of alpha and beta particles, and gamma rays. Alpha particles are blocked from entering your body by the skin. Beta particles are blocked by clothing.

Gamma rays are pure energy and are highly penetrating; however, the amount of gamma radiation emitted by

depleted uranium is extremely low.

SOURCES AND USES OF DEPLETED URANIUM

• Radiation Shielding in Hospitals

• Shielding containers for radioactive sources

• Counter balance weights for yacht keels and aircraft

• Aircraft landing gear

• Ballast in satellites and missiles

• Drilling equipment

THE BIGGEST USERS OF DEPLETED URANIUM ARE THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND ALLIED FORCES.

MILITARY USES

• Armor for tanks and other military vehicles

• Armor-piercing munitions

OTHER USES

 • Radiation Shielding in Hospitals
• Shielding containers for radioactive sources
• Counter balance weights for yacht keels
and aircraft
• Aircraft landing gear
• Ballast in satellites and missiles
• Drilling equipmen

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF DEPLETED URANIUM

DEPLETED URANIUM CAN ENTER THE BODY THROUGH:

• Inhaling dust

• Ingestion

• Through open wounds

• Weapon fragments

RADIATION HEALTH RISKS

• If inhaled or ingested, depleted uranium can produce internal radiation exposure.

• No adverse health effects have been observed from radiation exposure.

 

CHEMICAL HEALTH RISKS

• Uranium metal concentrates in the bone, kidney and liver.

• The kidney is the most sensitive organ to the effects of depleted uranium. 

• High doses of depleted uranium, just like many other heavy metals can damage the kidneys.

Prepared by Environmental Programs Directorate at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center 

620 John Paul Jones Circle, Suite 1100, 

Portsmouth, VA 23708 

(757) 953-0932