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Year:
2001
| Volume: 9
| Issue: 4
| Pages: 219-223
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Original Article |
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ON PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF DEPLETED URANIUM WEAPONS IN THE BALKANS
Jerzy W. MIETELSKI, Michael P. R. WALIGORSKI, Zora S. ZUNIC |
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DOI:
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Abstract: |
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The likely long-term environmental and health effects of the deployment of weapons containing depleted uranium (DU) in the Balkans are discussed. To determine whether depleted uranium or spent reactor fuel was used in the weapons, knowledge is required of the 235U to 238U activity (or concentration) ratio in the measured samples. To this end, and to distinguish between uranium originating from natural and man-made sources, we discuss some of the methodology and metrology issues involved in per- forming alpha- and gamma-spectrometry of uranium in environmental and human samples. We present results of nuclear spectrometry performed on DU core deposits eluted from the aluminium jacket of a PGU-14 bullet found in South Serbia. We draw attention to aspects involving ionising radiation, which are likely to be of importance when formulating a prognosis of the possible environmental and health impact of the deployment of DU weapons, indicating the importance of the inhalation pathway in children. |
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Key words:
Uranium; Nuclear Warfare; Radioactive Pollutants; Health; Environmental Pollution; Yugoslavia; Europe |
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