A procedure for the rapid detection of depleted uranium in metal shrapnel fragments

Depleted uranium is now widely used in the armor of military vehicles as we ll as in kinetic-energy penetrators designed to defeat enemy armor, As a re sult, the potential that personnel mill be wounded by depleted uranium frag ments has increased. Because toxicities associated with depleted uranium fr agments may ultimately require different treatment protocols than those use d for traditional metal fragment injuries, a method to rapidly detect the p resence of depleted uranium in surgically excised shrapnel fragments is req uired. By treating the shrapnel fragment with an extracting agent, such as nitric acid, for 5 minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner, sufficient metal is so lubilized to allow for colorimetric detection using a pyridylazo dye. Altho ugh several metals are capable of being detected under these conditions, th e reaction can be made specific for depleted uranium through the use of mas king agents such as sodium citrate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Thi s procedure allows for the rapid (<15 minutes) extraction and detection of depleted uranium in metal shrapnel fragments.