• fubo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    My understanding is that DU is only a little more harmful than lead, which is a toxic metal that remains popular for ammunition all over the world for the same reason: its density.

    • ActuallyASeal@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Pretty much what the article says.

      The alpha radiation that DU emits is not strong enough to penetrate human skin, so just being near depleted uranium is not a health risk. But it may become a health hazard if it is ingested or inhaled, or shrapnel fragments are retained in the body.

      It’s really just one more hazard a former battlefield can have. If I was in or around a former battlefield that had DU rounds used, I would be more concerned about unexploded high explosives.

      • fubo@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I don’t wanna inhale lead vapors either. Let’s try to avoid having wars.

  • ActuallyASeal@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Very informative article.

    DU also has nonmilitary applications. Its high density makes it useful for stopping radiation in medical, research and nuclear facilities.

    I find it funny a source of radiation, admittedly safe alpha radiation as long as it is outside of you, is used as radiation shielding.