Exposure to DU
When a vehicle is struck by a DU projectile, it creates dust, smoke, fumes, and tiny particles. These particles can easily be inhaled or ingested, contaminating the inside of the vehicle and potentially injuring occupants with DU fragments. Additionally, vehicle fires can burn DU ammunition, spreading contamination further.
Based on the level of potential exposure, individuals are categorized as follows:
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Level I:
- Highest exposure potential
- Includes personnel in, on, or near (within 50 meters) an armored vehicle hit by a DU projectile
- May experience exposure through inhalation, ingestion, wound contamination, and embedded DU fragments
- Requires urine bioassay for evaluation
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Level II:
- Moderate exposure potential
- Includes personnel who routinely enter damaged vehicles in recovery operations or fight fires involving DU
- Requires urine bioassay for evaluation
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Level III:
- Lowest exposure potential
- Includes personnel simply riding in a vehicle with intact DU munitions or shielding
- Significant DU intake unlikely
- Urine bioassay optional, based on individual and healthcare provider concerns
Health effects of DU
As with all heavy metals, the hazard depends mainly upon the chemical form, the amount taken into the body, and the solubility of the DU particles within the body fluids. Very high uranium intakes can cause kidney damage. Chronic exposure by inhalation represents potential radiological hazard to the lung. Uranium miners have an increased risk of lung cancer after long-term exposures to natural uranium and its radioactive progeny (including radon); however, this increase in lung cancer risk is attributed to radon and not to the radioactivity of uranium. DU is less radioactive than natural uranium. There are no acute health effects for Level I and II expected; however, in rare instances Level I exposures could cause acute effects to the kidney.
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Signs: The main indicator is DU in urine or feces, particularly the urine.
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Health Risks: The primary concern is kidney damage due to DU's heavy metal properties, rather than its low radioactivity.
Medical treatment
Casualties may have DU contamination on their clothing and skin. Under no circumstances should casualty extraction, treatment, or evacuation be delayed due to the presence of DU. Standard aidman procedures for treating wounded personnel should be followed.
Normal “universal precautions" (surgical gloves, surgical mask, and throwaway surgical gowns) are more than adequate to protect medical personnel from accidental contamination with DU.
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Casualty Care: Standard medical procedures should be followed without delay, even in the presence of DU.
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Wound and Burn Management: Wounds and burns should be cleaned and treated normally, with DU fragments removed based on standard surgical criteria. Large fragments (greater than 1 cm) should be more aggressively removed unless the medical risk to the patient is too great. The short-term consequences of retained DU fragments do not justify an aggressive approach during the early treatment of wounds. Appropriate treatment of the wound with removal of any easily accessible fragments should be performed. In the care of acute wounds, surgical judgment should avoid the risk of harm in removal of other fragments—even when known to be DU. Fragments of DU may always be removed later. Fragment sizes can vary from several millimeters to 1–2 cm and are readily discernible by x-ray examination.
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Inhalation: Individuals who have been potentially exposed to DU by inhalation should not have any acute symptoms and should be treated only if injured.
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Urine Bioassay: Urine bioassay to assess exposure should be performed according to existing Army and DoD policies.
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Long-Term Monitoring: Chronic exposure cases are referred to the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
for ongoing surveillance.
Additional information on the medical management of radiological casualties can be found at the
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute webpage.
VA monitoring of Gulf War Veterans with DU exposure
Since 1993, the VA has carefully monitored a group of about 80 Gulf War Veterans who were seriously injured in incidents involving DU. These Veterans receive ongoing medical care and testing at the Baltimore VA Medical Center.
In a 2013 study, 14 Veterans showed higher-than-normal levels of uranium in their urine, likely due to retained DU fragments. These individuals are being monitored closely with various tests to assess any potential health effects.
Reassuringly, all Veterans in the program, including those with retained DU fragments, have normal kidney function. While minor differences in certain urinary markers were observed in the group with higher DU levels, these findings require further investigation.
Additionally, the reproductive health of this Veteran group appears normal. All babies fathered by these Veterans between 1991 and 1997 were born healthy and without any birth defects.
The VA's long-term monitoring program demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of Veterans who may have been exposed to DU. The ongoing research and close observation provide valuable data that can inform future care and management strategies.
Find more information at the
VA's Depleted Uranium Follow-Up Program webpage.
Risk Communication Information
DU aerosols are only one of many potentially hazardous substances that U.S. Service members may be exposed to during deployment and combat operations.
The following are two potential hazards associated with exposure to large amounts of DU aerosols or retained fragments:
- The effect associated with heavy metal toxicity, much like that seen with tungsten, lead, and cadmium on the kidney.
- DU's low-level radioactivity.
Follow-up of individuals with retained DU fragments have not shown evidence of adverse health effects related to internalized DU. Those individuals who show elevated DU in the screening urine bioassay are being followed as a precaution.
Additional Information
For more information on DU, please visit the following websites:
