depleted uranium, depleted uranium ammunition, DU, DU ammunition, lead ammunition, lead poisoning, Putin, Russia, Russian hypocrisy, Russian invasion Ukraine, Russian lies, Ukrainian defence
Both uranium and lead are heavy metals. Lead is actually the end of the uranium radioactive decay chain. That is, uranium eventually becomes lead. Uranium, like most radionuclides, is both a radiological and chemical poison. Contrary to what this article says, depleted uranium has to be at least as bad, and almost certainly worse, than lead.
On the toxicity of lead ammunition: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/health-risks-from-lead-based-ammunition-in-the-environment/
However, the article, below, is important to point out, in the context of Putin’s complaints about the UK’s plans to send depleted uranium (DU) ammunition for use by Ukrainians to defend their homeland against Russia’s invasion. Meanwhile, Russia itself has used depleted uranium ammunitions against Ukraine. https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/russia-using-armour-piercing-depleted-uranium-du-tank-ammo-hypocritically-complains-that-the-uk-may-send-du-ammo-to-ukraine-putin-attempting-to-confuse-and-deceive-people-by-pretending-that/
As US NSC Spokesperson, John Kirby, has pointed out, if Putin is concerned about the use of depleted uranium in Ukraine, then he needs to recall the Russian military home to Russia, where they belong.
An example of a Russian company making lead ammunition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnaul_Cartridge_Plant Does ammunition exported from Russia to the US include DU marked as lead?
“Depleted uranium instead of lead in munitions: the lesser evil
J Radiol Prot By Sergei V Jargin 1
2014 Mar;34(1):249-52. doi: 10.1088/0952-4746/34/1/249. Epub 2014 Mar 4.
Affiliation 1 Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Clementovski per 6-82, 115184 Moscow, Russia. PMID: 24594921 DOI: 10.1088/0952-4746/34/1/249
Uranium has many similarities to lead in its exposure mechanisms, metabolism and target organs. However, lead is more toxic, which is reflected in the threshold limit values. The main potential hazard associated with depleted uranium is inhalation of the aerosols created when a projectile hits an armoured target. A person can be exposed to lead in similar ways.
Accidental dangerous exposures can result from contact with both substances. Encountering uranium fragments is of minor significance because of the low penetration depth of alpha particles emitted by uranium: they are unable to penetrate even the superficial keratin layer of human skin. An additional cancer risk attributable to the uranium exposure might be significant only in case of prolonged contact of the contaminant with susceptible tissues.
Lead intoxication can be observed in the wounded, in workers manufacturing munitions etc; moreover, lead has been documented to have a negative impact on the intellectual function of children at very low blood concentrations.
It is concluded on the basis of the literature overview that replacement of lead by depleted uranium in munitions would be environmentally beneficial or largely insignificant because both lead and uranium are present in the environment.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24594921/
“SCIENCE OR SCIENCE FICTION? Facts, Myths and Propaganda In the Debate Over Depleted Uranium Weapons”, By Dan Fahey March 12, 2003 https://www.wise-uranium.org/pdf/dumyths.pdf
According to Briner (2006), “DU has many similarities to lead in its route of exposure, chemistry, metabolic fate, target organs, and effect of experimental animals…
The biochemical effects of uranium are not nearly as well studied as those for lead, which has an extensive literature, especially for lower dose exposure. Some literature does exist indicating that uranium has some biochemical effects similar to lead… However, there are differences between lead and uranium. In blood, 90% of lead is associated with either hemoglobin or the membranous components of red blood cells and the bulk of lead body burden is associated with the skeleton. Uranium in blood is about 40% plasma bound and the remainder is found as the soluble uranyl ion. Inhaled lead and uranium dust (as the oxides) both appear to have pulmonary half-lives of about 4-5 years. However, the skeletal half-life of lead is about 20 years but uranium has a skeletal half-life of less than 1.5 years, making the long-term kinetics of the two metals substantially different. Despite these differences there appears to be enough “face validity” to suggest that lead may be a useful model to anticipate the effects of uranium exposure until the time that the scientific literature on DU has matured. Provided that DU is similar in its’ biological activity to lead we are likely to see effects that are subtle, but pervasive, and most likely to impact children. Lead is well documented to have a negative impact on intellectual function at very low blood concentrations. These effects are likely to be seen only using large sample sizes and fairly sophisticated designs and tools for measurement.” (Briner WE, Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2006 Jun;3(2):129-35. “The evolution of depleted uranium as an environmental risk factor: lessons from other metals.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16823086 The entire article is available for free.)
Article also found here: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/the-toxicity-of-depleted-uranium-du/
The dangers of lead and uranium have been long known, yet continue to be ignored: “The Romans were aware that lead could cause serious health problems, even madness and death. However, they were so fond of its diverse uses that they minimized the hazards it posed. Romans of yesteryear, like Americans of today, equated limited exposure to lead with limited risk. What they did not realize was that their everyday low-level exposure to the metal rendered them vulnerable to chronic lead poisoning, even while it spared them the full horrors of acute lead poisoning.” https://web.archive.org/web/20160208011715/http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historical-perspective
“Diseases of miners were the first to be linked to the risks of uranium, even before uranium was the purpose of the mining. Pitchblende, a waste ore in silver, bismuth and cobalt mining, was already linked to lung disease in miners in the mid 1500s. The radioactive dust from these mining operations, as well as radon exposure, produced noteworthy rates of lung cancer in German miners” (Briner, 2010)