LONDON The association between depleted uranium in weapons and lung cancer is very small even in people exposed to high levels, according to an estimate published by an independent working group from The Royal Society this week. But the initiative has highlighted the lack of hard data from soldiers exposed to depleted uranium during conflicts in the last decade.
'The health hazards of depleted uranium (DU) munitions Part 1' is the first of two reports being prepared by The Royal Society in an attempt to review the scientific evidence available on this highly contentious issue. The aim was to assess the amounts of DU to which soldiers could be exposed on the battlefield and to calculate the risks of radiation from what has been observed previously in epidemiological studies. A second report, to be published later this year, will address the risks from toxic poisoning and environmental effects of DU.
...
