Depleted uranium in military conflicts and the impact on the environment

Kosovo was bombarded by fired shells (bullets) with depleted uranium (DU) during April 1999. Around 30,000 depleted uranium rounds (projectiles) were fired, and about 10 tons of the DU debris were scattered across Kosovo. In reviewing the data on environmental measurements for depleted uranium collected by field missions in the Kosovo area during the period of 5-19 November 2000 (1.5 y following the 1999 conflict), evidence of depleted uranium was found only in soil samples at localized points of concentrated contamination. Concentrations varied from a few mg (2.34 mg) DU per kg soil (29 Bq DU/kg soil) at depths of 39.5-44.5 cm up to about 18 g DU per kg soil (225,760 Bq DU/kg soil) at depths of 0-5 cm surface soil. There were no signs of depleted uranium in waters. However, in most (80%) of the 145 soil (core) samples reported by UNEP, 238U was lower than 100 Bq per kg soil (the lowest was 8.8 Bq per kg soil) in 112 locations of widespread contamination.