What is depleted uranium?

The British government recently said that it would provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium.

What is depleted uranium?

Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the process of creating enriched uranium, which is used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
In comparison to enriched uranium, depleted uranium is much less radioactive and is incapable of generating a nuclear reaction.
However, due to its high density (it’s more dense than lead) depleted uranium is widely used in weapons as it can easily penetrate armour plating.
It’s got so much momentum that it just keeps going through the armour and it heats it up so much that it catches on fire.

Which countries have depleted uranium munitions?

Apart from the US, Britain, Russia, China, France and Pakistan produce uranium weapons, which are not classified as nuclear weapons, as per the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons.
Another 14 states are known to store them.
Risks of using such weapons
Even though depleted uranium munitions aren’t considered nuclear weapons, such weapons emit low levels of radiation and can cause severe diseases.
Ingesting or inhaling quantities of uranium – even depleted uranium – is dangerous.
It depresses renal function and raises the risk of developing a range of cancers..
According to the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, depleted uranium munitions which miss their target can poison groundwater and soil.

Where have depleted uranium munitions been used?

Depleted uranium munitions were used in the 1991 Gulf War to destroy T-72 tanks in Iraq.
These weapons were again used in the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and then during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

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