Re: depleted uranium ammo

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

The surface dose rate from depleted uranium through 7 mg/cm^2, the Reference
Man thickness of the dead layer of the skin, is approximately 2.2 mSv per
hour; about 90% of this is from beta radiation, the rest from photons.
Alpha particles typically do not have sufficient energy to penetrate the
dead layer of the skin.  The values you reported do not significantly differ
from these, although I am unfamiliar with the practice of expressing the
dose rate per unit area.  In any event, at this dose rate,exposure for 80 h
would result in a skin dose of about 200 mSv, a dose insufficient to produce
erythema.

Fewel free to contact the US Transuranium and Uranium Registries for further
information re uranium; our telephone number is 1-800-375-9317 or
509-372-7317 or, to me direct at 509-375-5643.

Ron Kathren, Director
U.S. Transuranium and Uranium Registries >
>
>Hi  Radsafers,
>
>    I would appreciate learning of published material dealing with 
>the DOSIMETRIC implications of ammunition produced from depleted 
>uranium. The reason is as follows : during a recent visit to Serbia I 
>was give an account ,by their radiation protection scientists, of  
>analyses and dosimetric assessments of  armour-piercing rounds made 
>of  depleted uranium which were found in the Serbian Republic  
>apparently as a consequence of air bombardment of targets in the 
>recent past.  (Presumably in the aftermath of the Gulf War the desert 
>is also littered with similar rounds.)   A round had a reported  
>activity of  about 3.4 MBq  and for skin contact the equivalent dose 
>rate for alphas is reported as 0.50 Sv /hr.cm2 while that from betas 
>is reported as being about 1.4 mSv/hr.cm2 . Other dose estimates were 
>quoted for gammas. The main dosimetric concern expressed was for 
>situations where spent rounds would be picked up by the general 
>public (in particular by children) and kept for long periods as 
>souvenirs. Estimates were made that from prolonged skin exposure  
>(such as to a schoolboy keeping a spend round in a pocket) changes to 
>skin (necrosis and ulceration )  might occur after a period as short 
>as 80 hours.  I cannot vouch for these estimates  but would like to 
>know if this type of  dose assessment has been dealt with in the open 
>literature. As a Radon Ranger I am not au fait with the type of  
>dosimetric calculations quoted above. It would also be interesting to 
>know ,for example, the dosimetric implication for the people  (both 
>military and civilian) who regularly deal with such rounds as part of 
>their work or duties.  
>
>Yours sincerely,
>
>James Mc Laughlin,Physics Dept,
>University College Dublin.Ireland
> MCLAUGH@ACADAMH.UCD.IE   
> 
>
>