Message from the Special
Assistant for Gulf War
Illnesses
On October 19, 2004, the Department of Defense released the report, "Depleted Uranium Aerosol Doses and Risks: Summary of U.S. Assessments," detailing the results of testing conducted to estimate depleted uranium exposure levels for those service members in, on, or near an armored vehicle when it is perforated by a depleted uranium munition.
The conclusions of the Capstone Depleted Uranium Aerosol Characterization and Risk Assessment Program indicate that the chemical and radiological risks to human health of inhaling depleted uranium aerosols in a perforated vehicle are low. The most important factor for reducing exposure and dose after vehicle perforation is the use of onboard vehicle ventilation. Ventilation systems operating during or soon after a depleted uranium perforation can significantly reduce the intake and its associated exposure received by the crewmembers.
The Capstone Program, sponsored by the Army and the Deployment Health Support Directorate, was designed to provide a peer reviewed, rigorous scientific estimate of the health risks to military personnel in and around armored vehicles perforated by large caliber depleted uranium munitions.
To read the Capstone report and its related Human Health Risk Assessment along with previous studies of depleted uranium, go to http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil/du_library/.