Uranium weapons pose no serious health risk, EU says

Depleted uranium weapons, used by NATO in Kosovo, caused no "detectable" effect on human health, an EU panel says.

There were concerns that uranium caused cancer among peacekeeping troops.

Italy studied the illnesses of 30 veterans of Balkans peacekeeping missions, after seven of them died of cancer.

Munitions containing depleted uranium were used by American aircraft during the 78-day air campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999 and in Bosnia during 1994 and 1995.

A number of European nations also use munitions containing depleted uranium.

Because EU civilian employees have worked and visited Kosovo for prolonged periods, the EU decided it needed its own scientific opinion.

Margot Wallstroem, the EU environment commissioner, said the EU's executive body would consider the study when discussing the need for further action on the health and environmental situation in the Balkans.

The experts concluded "that radiological exposure to depleted uranium could not result in detectable effect on human health" .

With specific regard to leukaemia, they said uranium accumulates very little in blood-forming organs such as bone marrow, therefore the experts concluded that the risk of leukaemia is far below the risk of other cancers.