<unk>  is an alpha-emitting, radioactive heavy metal that occurs naturally in nearly all rocks and soil. Natural<unk>  is made up of the three naturally occurring isotopes of<unk>  namely 234U, 235U, and 238U. Naturally occurring<unk>  deposits are over 99% 238U. You eat, drink, and breather natural<unk>  on a daily basis.
Health hazards of natural<unk>  have been studied extensively since 1940s. Health impact of<unk><unk>  (DU) has been studied since the early 1970s.
Enrichment is the industrial process by which natural<unk>  is separated into enriched<unk>  which has an increased percentage of 235U and<unk><unk>  which has a decreased percentage of 235U.
DU is a byproduct of the enrichment process.
DU has 40% less radioactivity than natural<unk> . It has a specific activity of 0.33 microCi/g.
DU has the same chemical properties as naturally occurring<unk> , it simply has different ratio of isotopes of 234U, 235U, and 238U.
DU health effects will be the same as for natural<unk>  because the toxicity is primarily due to the chemical toxicity rather than radiotoxicity.
United States Armed Forces have used<unk><unk>  in the manufacture of ammunition, armor, and aircraft.
DU's high density, self-sharpening quality and pyrophoricity make it a good choice for projectile munitions.
DU's density makes it a good armor choice.
DU's density also makes it a good choice for counterbalance weights used in aircraft and on helicopter rotors.
DU is a byproduct of the enrichment process.
DU has 40% less radioactivity than natural<unk> . It has a specific activity of 0.33 microCi/g.
DU has the same chemical properties as naturally occurring<unk> , it simply has different ratio of isotopes of 234U, 235U, and 238U.
DU health effects will be the same as for natural<unk>  because the toxicity is primarily due to the chemical toxicity rather than radiotoxicity.
DU's high density, self-sharpening quality and pyrophoricity make it a good choice for projectile munitions.
DU's density makes it a good armor choice.
DU's density also makes it a good choice for counterbalance weights used in aircraft and on helicopter rotors.
Inhalation - minor route of exposure for general population. Major route for occupational population. On average in US individual daily intake of<unk>  is 0.007 micrograms by inhalation.
Oral - predominant route of exposure for general population through ingestion of food and drinking water. Average daily intake of<unk>  in US is 1.9 micrograms by ingestion.
Dermal - unlikely route of exposure for general population. Potential route of exposure for military service members.
DU is poorly absorbed following inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure route.
Amount absorbed heavily dependent on the solubility of the compound.
<0.1-6% of<unk>  is absorbed following oral exposure.
67% of<unk>  in blood is filtered in the kidneys and leaves body in urine within 24 hours. Remainder is distributed to tissues primarily bone, liver, and kidney.
Retention half-time for<unk>  in bone is 70-200 days.
Retention in body skeleton (66%), liver (16%), kidneys (8%), other tissues (10%)
Amount absorbed heavily dependent on the solubility of the compound.
<0.1-6% of<unk>  is absorbed following oral exposure.
Alpha emitter thus not serious external radiation hazard. Alpha radiation has poor penetrating ability. Direct contact with bare DU for 250 hours is necessary to exceed annual occupational exposure limits.
Internal exposure via inhalation, ingestion, wound contamination or retained fragments warrants some concern.
Chronic exposure by inhalation is potential radiologic hazard to the lung and thoracic lymph nodes.
Genotoxicity, mutagenicity and reproductive effects are being studied.
Kidney dysfunction main chemically-induced effect of<unk> 
Can develop tubulopathy or renal tubular acidosis
Depleted uranium toxicity
Alpha radiation exposure
Platinum toxicity
Heavy metal toxicity
Mold toxicity
Gold toxicity
Xylazine toxicity
Copper toxicity