The Erzgebirge ('Ore Mountains') area in the eastern part of Germany was a major source of uranium for Soviet nuclear programs between 1945 and 1989. During this time, the former German Democratic Republic became the third largest uranium producer in the world. The high abundance of uranium in the geological formations of the Erzgebirge are mirrored in the discovery of uranium by M. Klaproth cl...

Considerable evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the toxicity of uranyl acetate (UA), a soluble salt of depleted uranium (DU). We examined the ability of the two antioxidants, beta-glucan and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), to prevent UA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction using rat-isolated kidney mitochondria. Beta-glucan (150 nM) and BHT (20 nM) attenuated UA-indu...

Following exposure to aerosols of depleted uranium (DU), biological samples show the presence of a synthetic mixture of natural uranium and DU. By partitioning the uranium in the 24-h urine sample along the isotopic fractions of natural uranium and DU, one can study the kinetics of these subpopulations independently. A linear model is developed to estimate the lung burden of DU from measurement...

Slabs of natural and depleted uranium are used routinely to calibrate personal dosimeters and radiation survey instruments for beta radiation. However, little information is available on the absorbed dose rate produced by a uranium slab as a function of depth in matter. In this study, an extrapolation chamber was used to measure the dose rate produced by natural uranium at a variety of depths i...

Depleted uranium (DU) is a by-product from the chemical enrichment of naturally occurring uranium. Natural uranium is comprised of three radioactive isotopes: (238)U, (235)U, and (234)U. This enrichment process reduces the radioactivity of DU to roughly 30% of that of natural uranium. Nonmilitary uses of DU include counterweights in airplanes, shields against radiation in medical radiotherapy u...

Uranium is a chemically toxic and radioactive heavy metal. Depleted uranium (DU) the byproduct of enrichment process, with majority U as uranium-238, lower content fissile isotope uranium-235 than natural uranium. Uranium-235 mainly used in nuclear reactors manufacture weapons. Exposure likely to have an impact on humans or ecosystem where military operations DU. Yuma Proving Ground Arizona, US...

Ecological consequences of depleted uranium (DU) released to the environment as a result of military use of DU munitions were appraised by reviewing pertinent literature. Estimates were based upon ecosystem responses to natural uranium, which is more soluble and more toxic than DU. It was concluded that the major ecological hazard from expended uranium munitions will be chemical toxicity rather...