Civilian and military uses of depleted uranium: environmental and health problems

Depleted uranium is a by-product of the process of enrichment of natural ur anium and is classified as a toxic and radioactive waste; it has a very hig h density (approximately 19 g cm(-3)), a remarkable ductility and a cost lo w enough to be attractive for some particular technical applications. Civil ian uses are essentially related to its high density, but the prevailing us e is however military (production of projectiles). From the radioactive poi nt of view, the exposure to depleted uranium can result from both external irradiation as well as internal contamination. The associated risks are how ever mainly of chemical-toxicological kind and the target organ is the kidn ey. In the present note the recent military uses and the possible effects o f its environmental diffusion are discussed.