A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses

Volume 7: Depleted Uranium

Naomi Harley, Ernest Foulkes, Lee H. Hilborne, Arlene Hudson, C. Ross Anthony

ResearchPublished 1999

Because of the metal’s density and metallurgical properties, depleted uranium (DU) saw widespread use during the Persian Gulf War in improved armor and antiarmor rounds of increased penetrating power. This report examines the scientific literature regarding possible health effects on U.S. troops of exposure to DU. While very little literature directly addresses DU, a wide body of literature deals with the health effects of natural uranium and enriched uranium. DU is toxicologically identical to natural uranium and radiologically more benign because it is less radioactive. No increase in overall deaths has been observed as a result of exposure to natural uranium in several epidemiological studies. The literature review paid close attention to the ongoing study of a group of GulfWar Veterans who received the highest exposure to DU. Those with embedded fragments have elevated urine uranium levels, but researchers report neither adverse renal effects attributable to DU nor any adverse health effects related to DU radiation.

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  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 1999
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 144
  • Paperback Price: $15.00
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 978-0-8330-2681-1
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/MR1018.7
  • Document Number: MR-1018/7-OSD

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RAND Style Manual
Harley, Naomi, Ernest Foulkes, Lee H. Hilborne, Arlene Hudson, and C. Ross Anthony, A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 7: Depleted Uranium, RAND Corporation, MR-1018/7-OSD, 1999. As of October 8, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1018z7.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Harley, Naomi, Ernest Foulkes, Lee H. Hilborne, Arlene Hudson, and C. Ross Anthony, A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 7: Depleted Uranium. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1999. https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1018z7.html. Also available in print form.
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