Author(s)

F. P. Carvalho

Abstract

The use of ammunition made of depleted uranium (DU) in the Balkans’ war raised concerns about environmental contamination and toxic effects of DU in humans. Since 2000, investigations performed in that region concluded that there is local contamination but no widespread environmental contamination with DU. Soils, agriculture, and drinking water supplies were not compromised with DU contamination. Although there are concerns related to the environmental fate of ammunition left in the battlefield, analyses of foods and uranium bioassay in human urine samples indicated that uranium concentrations generally are similar to background levels in the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe. DU in the Balkan region does not represent a health hazard in most of the territory and to the general population. However, areas contaminated with DU justify monitoring and surveillance to avoid occasional contamination of members of the public. Keywords: depleted uranium, environmental contamination, soil, agriculture, drinking water, foods, urine bioassay, humans.

Keywords

depleted uranium, environmental contamination, soil, agriculture, drinking water, foods, urine bioassay, humans