Some researchers who studied existing data on depleted uranium deployed in the Balkans concluded that there still is not enough evidence to establish a link between the material and local health. That being said, there remains a strong possibility that depleted uranium has negative consequences on civilians. After all, depleted uranium is carcinogenic , and there is evidence to suggest that it may also impact hormones.
A paper from the World Health Organization WHO reports that someone who inhales small, insoluble uranium particles may experience lung damage or lung cancer due to radiation. Depleted uranium may also lead to poor kidney functioning. Although the research process is difficult, scholars have still been working to see if there is a link between depleted uranium and community health near conflict zones.
Basra experienced a stage of US bombings in response to the invasion of Kuwait. Al-Azzawi suggests that depleted uranium used during such conflicts is responsible for the rise in cancer and birth defects in the area. While these studies have their limitations, they give compelling reasons to think critically about the potential effects of depleted uranium.
In the past, leaders did not pay the necessary amount of attention to the risks of depleted uranium. Documents suggest that the United States may have known about the potential consequences of depleted uranium during conflicts in which it was used. However, the United States still used depleted uranium in the Middle East despite the risks, deeming that its military benefits outweighed the potential civilian impact.
The United States and Great Britain might have used a less toxic substance like tungsten instead of depleted uranium. Still, military leaders selected depleted uranium, perpetuating a long-history of imperialism in which western nations prioritize their own interests over the well-being of local communities.
Importantly, depleted uranium did not go unchallenged. In the s, environmental activists and other groups criticized the use of depleted uranium, but the United States continued to deploy it. In , the United States Department of Defense declared that it would no longer use depleted uranium, only to use it for airstrikes in Syria later that year.
But how is this possible? In light of evidence suggesting the dangers of depleted uranium, why were countries still allowed to use it? One might think that international treaties like the Chemical Weapons Convention should have prohibited its deployment. However, further investigation will reveal the opposite.
Many of these treaties only ban weapons that have primarily toxic effects or are specifically intended to have toxic effects. This is not the case for depleted uranium. Militaries use depleted uranium to make or destroy armor rather than spread toxic chemicals to enemy combatants. For this reason, such treaties have not prevented countries from using depleted uranium in military operations.
However, the absence of a treaty banning depleted uranium is not the only reason that countries like the United States have been able to justify its use. DU was also used to create armor for tanks and as weights to balance aircrafts. The U. DU is still used to make bullets and mortar shells.
DU contamination of spent shells and shell fragments is a hazard at some military firing ranges. Avoid facilities that use or process DU: DU is dangerous when it is inside your body. Avoid internal exposure: If DU gets inside the body the hazards increase. Minimize your risk of internal exposure by limiting your proximity to uranium manufacturing plants and firing ranges that continue to use DU in ammunition. They provide DU education programs as part of soldier training.
Military Health System Information on Environmental Exposures to Depleted Uranium Learn more about environmental exposure to depleted uranium, including health hazards to members of the military.
The NRC regulates and oversees the civilian uses of nuclear materials in the United States by licensing facilities that possess, use, or dispose of nuclear materials; establishing standards; and inspecting licensed facilities.
This includes uranium used at nuclear power plants. Many states have signed formal agreements with NRC. These states are known as Agreement States. However, in the situations where fragments of, or complete, depleted uranium ammunitions were found, there is a potential risk of radiation effects for individuals who come into direct contact with such fragments or ammunitions.
This risk can be mitigated by national authorities through conducting such simple countermeasures as the collection, storage and disposal of such fragments. Nevertheless, in a post-conflict environment, the presence of depleted uranium residues can further increase the anxiety of local populations. The panel based its conclusions on the available scientific evidence and the estimated DU intakes of soldiers based on battlefield scenarios. Download references.
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