What are the health effects of Depleted Uranium?
138716
try this report from 1999 to see actual documented studies. http://www.rimbaud.freeserve.co.uk/dhap99f.html
477991
Each tissue of the body is more/less sensitive to radiation.  Each has a threshold where it is severely damaged and/or dies.\nHigh acute dosages result in damage to the nervous system and death follows shortly.  Symptoms include vomiting.\nA lesser dose will damage the crypt cells in the intestines (cells that reproduce a lot and replace those lost on a daily basis).  Over a 2 week (or so) period, the intestines will begin to develop holes as old cells are lost and new ones are not forthcoming.  The patient dies when the contents of the intestines move into the body cavity and massive infection sets in.\nA lesser dose (or where the patient survives the above) will kill the bone marrow cells which produce red blood cells.  Normal attrition of red blood cells (life span roughly 30 days) and the lack of replacement will result in death in roughly a month.  \nLesser doses can lead to other short term complications and in the long term cancer.  The outcome varies greatly on what organs received the radiation, in what amounts, for how long, etc.  Not as clear cut as higher dosages.
562664
Nuclear waste or any radiological material deteriorates in its radioactive properties at a set rate determined by spin of rates of the neutrons that orbit the nucelus of the specific molecule in question. This rate is know as a half life or the time it takes for half the neutrons to spin off. This can only be accelarated by forecfully adding electrons to the molecules of the material, which is another radiological procedure that requires large amounts of electricity.  A very expensive process.  Chemicals have virtualy no effect toward accelarating half rates.
753392
Basically, Muscle aches, blurred vision, depression, inability to concentrate, memory loss, skin rashes\n\nThe primary symptoms of mercury-poisoning are vague psychic ones. Short-time memory deteriorates. Difficulty in concentrating on tasks which require attention and thinking. It is easier to execute tasks that are well known rather than to learn something new, Avoidance of social contacts which demand that you get out of your introvert behavior. Short Temper and switching between different moods for no particular reason. Physical exhaustion,. More and more effort is required to initiate activities and sometimes break things due to inability to co-ordinate your movements with your visual impressions (ataxia). Occasional headaches, minor involuntary muscle spasms or ticks within groups of muscles can also appear. Hands and feet become easily cold, attacks of dizziness or vertigo can occur, and periodically you may find it difficult to focus your eyes and to see clearly. Joint and muscle pains, stiffness, lumbago and similar symptoms often appear at an early stage. They can be caused or increased by low availability of the trace element selenium. Nervous heart, sometimes accompanied by a week pulse, sometimes by a hard pulse, creates a feeling of anxiety. You don't sleep well, you wake up stiff and never feel thoroughly rested. As a whole you need more sleep than before, and you are constantly tired. Some individuals develop pronounced intestinal and stomach disturbances. Bloating, diarrhea can alternate with constipation.  Symptoms in mouth appear. The gums bleed when you brush your teeth, red and white irritations (lichen, leukoplakia) araise, blisters and sensitivity to certain nutritives develop, your teeth ache, the whole jaw can become more or less inflamed, and some persons develop sinusitis. Metal taste in your mouth is a direct sign of metal-poisoning (mercury, copper). Frequent urination, numbness, hypersensitivity.\n\nI read about the Tuna connection or high fish diet and if u have any of this symproms or develop any of them, pls see ur GP or u could actaully go in straight to have ur mercury levels tested so u don't have to wait with uncertainty and being worried unneccessarily.
453187
If you are really interested in this topic, I recommend reading "The Plutonium Files," a recently published book. It reports on the negative health effects of uranium and plutonium, specifically the results of secret tests performed on civilian citizens and members of the military, by our government. (Almost all of whom were unaware they had unwittingly become guinea pigs.) Very interesting and informative.
554348
goldwing doesn't know what he's taking about... Heavy water, which is distiguished by the presence of H-2, or Deuterium, is _not_ radioactive.  It is a stable isotope that does exist naturally (.015% from the table of nuclides), stable nuclei don't emit radioactive particles, radioactive particles are emitted as a means for an unstable nuclei to return to a stable form. The reason it is licensed is because heavy water can harm biogical systems, but not because of radiocativity, but rather because biological systems are quite sensitive to the solvent properties of water (which change when deuterium is substituted for natural hydrogen), given a human would have to drink pure heavy water for over two weeks before he/she became seriously ill, but it's a risk nonetheless.  Another reason that it is licensed for production is because a facility capable of seperating an isotope like H2 from natural hydrogen could potentially seperate another fissile isotope (U-235) from natural Uranium...
648139
A net loss in mass and gain in energy.\nIf you mean the elemental products from fission , they include Ce, I, Sb, Ag, Ru, Mo, Nb, Zr, Y, and Kr.
17050
As uranium metal is very dense and heavy, depleted uranium is used by some militaries as shielding to protect tanks, and also in parts of bullets, kinetic energy penetrators and missiles. The military also uses enriched uranium (more than natural levels of 235U) to power nuclear propelled navy ships and submarines, and in nuclear weapons. Fuel used for United States Navy reactors is typically highly enriched in 235U.In nuclear weapons uranium is also highly enriched, usually over 90%  to a level known as "weapons grade".\n\nThe main use of uranium in the civilian sector is to fuel commercial nuclear power plants, where fuel is typically enriched in 235U to 2-3%. However, the Canadian Candu reactors use natural uranium (i.e.unenriched) as fuel. Depleted uranium is used in helicopters and airplanes as counterweights on certain wing parts. Other uses include;\n\nCeramic glazes where small amounts of natural uranium (that is, not having gone through the enrichment process) may be added for colour. \nAddition of uranium makes fluorescent yellow or green coloured glass. \nThe long half-life of the isotope 238U (4.51 × 109 years) make it well-suited for use in estimating the age of the earliest igneous rocks and for other types of radiometric dating (including uranium-thorium dating and uranium-lead dating). \n238U is converted into plutonium in breeder reactors. Plutonium can be used in reactors, or in nuclear weapons. \nUranyl acetate, UO2(CH3COO)2 is used in analytical chemistry. It forms an insoluble salt with sodium. \nSome lighting fixtures utilise uranium, as do some photographic chemicals (esp. uranium nitrate). \nPhosphate fertilisers often contain high amounts of natural uranium, because the mineral material from which they are made is typically high in uranium. \nUranium metal is used for X-ray targets in making of high-energy X-rays
451632
Uranium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol U and atomic number 92. Heavy, silvery-white, toxic, metallic, naturally radioactive, pyrophoric, and teratogenic, uranium belongs to the actinide series and its isotope 235U is used as the fuel for nuclear reactors and the explosive material for nuclear weapons. Depleted uranium is used in incendiary projectile weapons. Uranium is commonly found in very small amounts in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals (including humans).
514653
Well what do you want to know.  DU is used in some tank armor as well as armor piercing weapons.  Tungsten steel is also used since both are a very dense metal.  What damage is it doing?  The reason it is called depleted is because about 99% of the radioactive material has been taken out of it.  You get more radiation by standing out in the sun.  The major health hazard associated with DU is being absorbed into the body by ingestion or inhalation.  The effects are the same as heavy metal poisoning you would get from ingesting lead.  DU is not a major health risk, unless you happen to be on the receiving end of an armor piercing round.
1019920
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enriched_uranium\n\nEnriched uranium is uranium whose uranium-235 content has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Natural uranium consists mostly of the 238U isotope, with about 0.72 % by weight as 235U, the only isotope existing in nature in any appreciable amount that is fissionable by thermal neutrons.\n\nEnriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency attempts to monitor and control enriched uranium supplies and processes in its efforts to ensure nuclear power generation safety and curb nuclear weapons proliferation.\n\nDuring the Manhattan Project enriched uranium was given the codename oralloy, a shortened version of Oak Ridge alloy, after the plant where the uranium was enriched. The term oralloy is still occasionally used to refer to enriched uranium.\n\nThe 238U remaining after enrichment is known as depleted uranium (DU), and is considerably less radioactive than even natural uranium, though still extremely dense. It is useful for armor, armor penetrating weapons and other material density applications.
446799
Enriched uranium is uranium whose uranium-235 content has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Natural uranium consists mostly of the 238U isotope, with about 0.72 % by weight as 235U, the only isotope existing in nature in any appreciable amount that is fissionable by thermal neutrons.\n\nEnriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency attempts to monitor and control enriched uranium supplies and processes in its efforts to ensure nuclear power generation safety and curb nuclear weapons proliferation.\n\nDuring the Manhattan Project enriched uranium was given the codename oralloy, a shortened version of Oak Ridge alloy, after the plant where the uranium was enriched. The term oralloy is still occasionally used to refer to enriched uranium.\n\nThe 238U remaining after enrichment is known as depleted uranium (DU), and is considerably less radioactive than even natural uranium, though still extremely dense. It is useful for armor, armor penetrating weapons and other material density applications.
732349
You will find all sorts of information by searching "Chernobyl radiation effects."  It's looks rather interesting & so I'm going to read it all now.  It gives many different web sites to chose from.
398105
It depends where you live. In years past, and even today, areas along highways had high levels of lead in the soil due to the emissions from the vehicles on the road. Areas around nuclear facilities (particularly those with leaks!)are going to have more nuclear contamination. Along stream and riverbeds the soil will reflect whatever has been flowing by. Areas downwind from coal burning facilities have higher levels of acidity from sulfur mixing with rain to form acid rain. While each of these example is related to the activity of man, there are other contaminants that occur naturally, such as seepage from underground heavy metals and standing groundwater. Part of your answer will result from what you define as a contaminant. Salt is necessary for life, but salt levels that are allowed to build up will kill life (such as the area around the Dead Sea).
27391
I can't imagine why a consumer would use Uranium 234, but the primary health risk of working around uranium mines is likely to be lung cancer. Consumers may indirectly use uranium by consuming electric power generated by nuclear power plants, but direct exposure to U234 is limited to miners and a few industrial uses.  \n\nU 234 is the third most common isotope of Uranium, has a half-life of 245,000 years and decays to Thorium 230. Thorium is equally hazardous to health, and decays giving off radon (a hazardous gas), till it becomes lead (Pb). I quote from Wikipedia: "All isotopes and compounds of uranium are toxic, teratogenic, and radioactive. Toxicity can be lethal. In less than lethal doses toxicity is limited primarily to recoverable kidney damage. Radiological effects are systemic. Uranium compounds in general are poorly absorbed by the lining in the lungs and may remain a radiological hazard indefinitely. Uranyl (UO2+) ions, such as from uranium trioxide or uranyl nitrate and other hexavalent uranium compounds will cause birth defects and immune system damage if ingested or inhaled." Uranium 234 is classed as a VERY HIGH HAZARD due to its radioactive properties. \n\nEnvironmental concerns of using Uranium are generally related to both mining of uranium ore and eventual disposal of radioactive wastes. Both have the potential to contaminate ground water and cause cancer, birth defects, and death in those exposed to radioactive elements. Mining inevitably involves mine tailings which contain some uranium being exposed on the earth surface, and radioactive waste from the use of uranium remains hazardous for hundreds of thousands of years, thus the controversy over proposed radioactive waste disposal at sites such as Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
443822
A LOT OF THINGS! There could be cancers, exposure to radiation, brain damage, birth defects. There are alot of chemical factors that are hard to understand but there is no ACTUAL cause. INdustrial chemicals like Vynil chloride could cause it, but thats justlike the radiation exposure. Mutations, depletions of your "brain immune system" hahahhaa can deplete your tumor supressor genes.
776865
1.  Diabetes, Heart Disease, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Psoriasis, and many many more.\n2.  Diabetes, Obeseity\n3.  Lead poisioning, mold allergies, toxic building syndrome, Legionaires desease.  Inhalation related to commercial chemical use.  Again, many many more\n4.  Headaches, high blood pressure, not causitive but an irritant to heart disease.\n\n5.  Arthritis, bone thinning, fractures.