Conclusions
• The basic methodology used for this study was determined to be generally valid.
The study findings can be used as a benchmark and a guide for evaluating the validity
of future radioisotope studies.
• No significant radiological health risks are posed by normal handling and processing
of uranium within the weapons complex, if standard safety guidelines are followed.
• Clinical health effects should not result from the chemical toxicity (heavy metal)
effect of uranium, if the implicit limit of 3 μg U/g kidney is not exceeded. Although
an exposed individual is unlikely to become ill at this maximum permitted kidney
burden, transient indicators of renal dysfunction are possible.
• Claims of significant increases in cancers for DU-exposed veterans and significant
increases in birth defects for their progeny are not supported by the study findings.
• Only a few veterans are predicted to incur about a 1% lung cancer risk from DU
exposure. Also, these veterans may have experienced transient kidney damage.
• Health risks for most DU-exposed veterans are predicted to be very small.
• Soft tissue sarcomas at the location of embedded fragments and chemically induced
neurotoxic effects cannot be ruled out; however, major neurotoxic effects are unlikely.
• The highest health risk for civilians was for children playing in DU-contaminated
vehicles. The nominal radiation-induced fatal cancer risk for these children was 0.1%.
• Health risks for Iraqi civilians are predicted to be very small, and claims of
observable increases in leukemia and birth defects from DU exposure are not
supported by this study.
• External radiation doses from DU are generally very small.
Recommendations
• Weapons complex guidelines for chemical toxicity from uranium exposure should be
reexamined to determine if they are consistent with recent findings and basic
protection standards.
• Screening and treatment should be provided for Level I DU-exposed veterans.
• Monitoring should be continued for veterans who received significant inhalation
doses or retain embedded DU fragments.
• Military personnel should be instructed to take reasonable actions when in vehicles
hit by DU penetrators (e.g., using the vehicle ventilation system or exiting quickly).
• Children should be discouraged from playing in abandoned military vehicles.
• Basic research on possible chemically induced DU health effects should be continued.
• Post-battle monitoring of the environment and nearby civilians is recommended.
a Lockheed Martin Company did a study and found very little problems with the use of Depleted Uranium.
