The US has announced it will send 120mm depleted uranium shells to Ukraine as part of more than $1bn in military and humanitarian aid to support against Russia.
The depleted uranium, a by-product of uranium, is a robust shell to pierce conventional tank armour. It is made of radioactive material. According to the UN Scientific Committee’s UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, the depleted uranium poses potential health risks due to its chemical toxicity.
It is known that US Army personnel who was exposed to depleted uranium in Iraq mostly suffered from severe illnesses such as cancer.
