It is only weakly radioactive because of the long radioactive half-life of 238 Normal functioning of the kidney, brain, liver, heart, and numerous other systems can be affected by exposure to uranium, a toxic metal. The use of DU in munitions is controversial because of concerns about potential long-term health effects. Most of the alpha radiation comes from 238 U content, which is 55 ppm in uranium from the Oklo Mine as well as all other natural sources, but will be lower in depleted uranium in accordance with the degree of depletion.ĭU is about 60% as radioactive as natural uranium.
It can be "fingerprinted" as different in origin from manmade depleted uranium by the 234 U content significantly different from 0.72% is found in the natural nuclear fission reactor at Oklo, Gabon. The only known natural source of uranium with a 235 DU from nuclear reprocessing has different isotopic ratios from enrichment–by-product DU, from which it can be distinguished by the presence of 236 Has a much longer half-life than the lighter isotopes, DU emits less alpha radiation than natural uranium. Less than a third of those in natural uranium. , which is the uranium isotope supporting the fission chain reaction) with the bulk of the feed ending up as depleted uranium, in some cases with mass fractions of 235 Enrichment processes generate uranium with a higher-than-natural concentration of lower- mass-number uranium isotopes (in particular 235 Most depleted uranium arises as a by-product of the production of enriched uranium for use as fuel in nuclear reactors and in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
Military uses include armor plating and armor-piercing projectiles. Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 grams per cubic centimetre (0.69 lb/cu in) ( 68.4% denser than lead).Ĭivilian uses include counterweights in aircraft, radiation shielding in medical radiation therapy and industrial radiography equipment, and containers for transporting radioactive materials.
The less radioactive and non-fissile 238Ĭonstitutes the main component of depleted uranium. Depleted uranium ( DU also referred to in the past as Q-metal, depletalloy or D-38) is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope 235
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