Use of Depleted Uranium in Military Conflicts and Possible Impact on Health and Environment

BACKGROUND There has been concern regarding the possible environmental impacts of depleted uranium (DU) and its possible health effects on both military personnel and on civilians following the Gulf War 1991 (e.g. 1, 2, 3). These issues have been raised by several non-governmental organizations, some scientists and by a number of press reports. Since DU could also have been used in the Balkan conflict 1999, there has been a concern about the possible consequences of its use for the people and for the environment of this region. Because of this concern it was considered necessary to review existing information on DU and give appropriate recommendations in the aftermath of the Balkans conflict. In May 1999 a UNEP/Habitat Balkans Task Force (BTF) was set up to make an overall assessment of the environmental consequences of the conflict and impacts of the conflict on human settlements in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and in Serbia. The work was done by organising Technical Missions to provide independent and reliable information which was relevant for the problem under consideration. As regards depleted uranium, a special international expert group, the ‘Depleted Uranium Desk Assessment Group’ was appointed to analyse and assess the situation particularly in Kosovo. The task of that group was to “assess the potential health and environmental impact of depleted uranium used in the Kosovo conflict” by: 1. collecting pre-information from existing material, in close co-operation with relevant institutions and organisations, concerning -potential effects of depleted uranium on human health or the environment; -quantity and quality of depleted uranium used in the conflict; -location of affected sites to be assessed. 2. assessing, by means of a desk study, the mediumand long-term potential health and environmental impacts of depleted uranium used in the Kosovo conflict, and depleted uranium dumped into the Adriatic Sea. 3. making a Fact-Finding Mission to Kosovo to prepare a sampling campaign and Field Study. 4. considering the possibility of conducting a Field Study in Kosovo, (based on the findings of the desk assessment and preparatory mission), to gather information from selected sites by using appropriate methodologies to assess the radioactivity and toxicity of depleted uranium. 5. analysing information in order to quantify ‘on the ground’ problems in respective areas and to provide qualitative answers concerning the possible risks to human health and further environmental damage. The purpose of the task was to obtain a reliable baseline for deciding whether people can move back to abandoned areas, to judge the need for special control and countermeasures, and, through information dissemination, to avoid unnecessary concern. The study concludes with some recommendations (4).