The use of DU in
munitions is controversial because of questions about potential long-term health effects.
[5][6] Normal functioning of the
kidney,
brain,
liver,
heart, and numerous other systems can be affected by uranium exposure, because uranium is a
toxic metal.
[7] It is weakly
radioactive and remains so because of its long
radioactive half-life (4.468 billion years for
uranium-238, 700 million years for
uranium-235). The
biological half-life (the average time it takes for the human body to eliminate half the amount in the body) for uranium is about 15 days.
[8] The
aerosol or
spallation frangible powder produced during impact and combustion of depleted uranium munitions can potentially contaminate wide areas around the impact sites, leading to possible inhalation by human beings.
[9]
The actual level of
acute and
chronic toxicity of DU is also a point of medical controversy. Several studies using
cultured cells and laboratory
rodents suggest the possibility of
leukemogenic,
genetic,
reproductive, and
neurological effects from chronic exposure.
[5] A 2005
epidemiology review concluded: "In aggregate the human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in offspring of persons exposed to DU."
[10] However, the
World Health Organization, the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations which is responsible for setting health research norms and standards, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends, states that no risk of
reproductive,
developmental, or
carcinogenic effects have been reported in humans due to DU exposure.
[11][12] This report has been criticized for not including possible long term effects of DU on the human body.
[13]
