The risks of depleted uranium contamination in post-conflict countries: Findings and lessons learned from UNEP field assessments

Many of the world’s armies possess, or are thought to possess, depleted uranium (DU) munitions-conventional weapons that have been used in warfare on several occasions (Harley et al. 1999). DU is a dense metal used in munitions for its penetrating ability and on armored vehicles as a protective material. In warfare production, DU is an alternative for tungsten, which is more expensive and has fewer offensive capabilities. Munitions containing DU were used in Iraq during the 1990-1991 and 2003 Gulf wars, in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994-1995, and in the Kosovo conflict in 1999, including southern Serbia and Montenegro.