L.I. Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety, Ministry of Health, Ukraine (State Enterprise), Kyiv, Ukraine

ABSTRACT. In recent decades, the incorporation of depleted uranium (DU) into modern armaments has been motivated by its low radioactivity and high chemotoxicity, properties which are advantageous in increasing penetration power. Currently, during the unprovoked full-scale aggression of Russia against Ukraine, European scientists are addressing the public and the scientific community, pointing out the potential danger of DU containing munitions, referring to the consequences of the war in Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as information about the probable use of such munitions by both Russia and our partners. The authors emphasize that the government of Ukraine, non-governmental public organizations and scientists should take the threat of the consequences of the use of DU munitions very seriously as soon as possible. This will help save the lives and health of Ukrainians, as well as arouse interest in generalizing the literature on the use of depleted uranium in modern weapons and its potential risks to the health of the military personnel and the population of contaminated territories.

Aim. To summarize the literature on the use of DU in modern weapons, possible routes of its entry into the body, mechanisms of toxic action, potential risk to the health of the military personnel and the population, and treatment strategies for those affected.

Materials and Methods. Open sources of public information and scientific literature data on the topic of the study were analysed. An analytical review of modern publications of scientific online libraries PubMed, MedLine, Elsevier on the use of DU in modern weapons, mechanisms of its toxic action, clinical manifestations of damage and treatment strategies for people exposed to its aerosols was conducted.

Results. In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the study of health damage in combat conditions caused by inhalation of aerosols containing depleted uranium. Studies by American scientists have shown that a DU containing 120-mm projectile weighing approximately 4 kg and launched near ventilated armoured vehicles, such as Abrams, Bradley tanks, and other combat vehicles, generates 900–3100 g of aerosol containing depleted uranium.

In addition to the destructive power of conventional weapons, the chemical toxicity of the aerosol generated when using DU containing munitions can harm health, primarily through the respiratory system, because the easily soluble components are absorbed and enter the blood and internal organs, while the insoluble microparticles of depleted uranium settle in the lungs and remain there for a long time. The DU containing aerosol contaminates environmental objects. The consumption of DU contaminated food and water contributes to the development of chronic damage in the population. Experimental and clinical studies have revealed nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, immunotoxic effects, toxicity to the bones and reproductive system, as well as mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of depleted uranium. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies depleted uranium as a Group I carcinogen with limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and proven for experimental animals. The mechanism of toxic action of depleted uranium includes the formation of oxidative stress, interaction with proteins, metabolic and immunotoxic disorders, activation of inflammatory processes, genetic disorders, formation of toxic mitochondriopathy, and activation of apoptosis.

Conclusions. Analysis of current literature data on potential health risks for military personnel and the population, caused mainly by chemical toxicity of depleted uranium in war conditions, based on registered monitoring epidemiological and laboratory studies, indicates that DU may be one of the causes of the so-called Persian Gulf Syndrome in veterans of the war in Iraq, the Balkans and in the population of territories contaminated with DU. The development of this syndrome complex is explained by the consequence of pro-oxidant, inflammatory processes, the formation of toxic mitochondriopathy and damage to mitochondrial DNA in various types of cells and organs. In a number of works, along with the influence of depleted uranium, the impact of other factors (stress, explosive gases, etc.) is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the need to monitor the military’s bio environment for the DU content for timely detoxification.

Keywords: depleted uranium, chemotoxicity, mechanisms of toxic action, health risk, treatment and prevention of damage.

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Стаття надійшла до редакції 25 лютого 2025 р.

The article was received by the editors on February 25, 2025.