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Depleted Uranium
Grant Wilton requested enlightenment as to what, if any, difference there is
between DU and natural Uranium with respect to its internal interaction with
the human body. Metabolically, uranium is uranium. Natural uranium is about
98% U238 by mass, but almost 50/50 U234 and U238 by activity. So, if you are
concerned with biochemical actions depleted uranium is equivalent to natural
uranium. However, if you are concerned with the radioactivity, depleted uranium
has only about 1/2 the activity per gram total uranium.
Jay MacLellan, CHP
Radiation and Health Technology
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
jay.a.maclellan@pnl.gov
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