Deployment Exposure & Chemicals
Depleted Uranium
Depleted Uranium (DU)
is a dense, slightly radioactive heavy metal used by the United States and
other countries in making ammunition, armor, aircraft counterweights, and
other materials. Because of its density and penetrating power, DU is
an excellent material for making armor and armor-piercing weapons.
Sources of Information:
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Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet
- This page on the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive
Medicine is a fact sheet on depleted uranium and how it relates to your
health.
-
Depleted Uranium - This page on the Deployment Health Clinician
Center web page contains information on the clinician significance of
Depleted Uranium and how a person may be exposed to Depleted Uranium.
- Depleted Uranium in the Gulf Environmental Exposure Report - Many Gulf War veterans have expressed concern their unexplained illnesses
may result from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans'
concerns, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a task force in
June 1995 to investigate those incidents and circumstances relating
to possible causes. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy
Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for
these investigations on November 12, 1996, and gathered information
on depleted uranium. This is the second interim report on depleted uranium;
it updates the August 4, 1998 Environmental Exposure Report, "Depleted
Uranium in the Gulf."
-
Scientific Literature Review of Depleted Uranium -
This is a review principally summarizing the scientific literature on the
known health effects of given exposures to depleted uranium. Where
available evidence permits, the reviews also summarize what is known about
the range of actual exposures in the Gulf and assess the plausibility of
the risk factor at-hand as a cause of illnesses. Statements related to the
Gulf War experience should be regarded as suggestive rather than
definitive, for much more research both on health effects and exposures
remains to be completed before definitive statements are made.
- Toxicological
Profile on Uranium - This is the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry toxicological profile characterizing the toxicological
and adverse health effects information for uranium.
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