Depleted uranium and public health risks in the Balkan region

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.

The threats and challenges of a radiological emergency

“…Moreover, the presence of DU in the Balkan's environment was confined to bombed sites, and not widespread in the environment. Soils and water resources sampled across the region were not contaminated and contained natural uranium in normal concentrations only [10]. Therefore agriculture and drinking water were not contaminated.…”

“…Human life in those territories was described as seriously threatened by the heavy contamination with depleted uranium and other radionuclides present in ammunition made of high activity radioactive waste. Soon an expression was coined to designate the depleted uranium related health injuries: "Balkan's syndrome" Several countries and international organizations from the UN system performed scientific missions to the Balkans in order to assess the radioactive and chemical contamination caused by the DU ammunition [10].…”

“…[10,11] This includes legal mechanisms for licensing radiation facilities and radioactive sources, mechanisms for inspection, and services for recording occupational radiation doses of workers and environmental radioactivity monitoring. An inventory of radioactive sources and mechanisms of verification is needed also, as well as emergency planning for accidents with radiation sources.…”