UN finds DU traces in Yugoslavia

A-10 tankbusters like this fired DU rounds over Kosovo

Three years after Nato's bombardment of Yugoslavia, United Nations scientists say they have found areas where the soil and the air is still contaminated by depleted uranium (DU).

We strongly recommend taking precautionary measures

Unep Executive Director Klaus Toepfer

The study of six sites in Serbia and Montenegro, bombed at the time of the Kosovo conflict, found "widespread, but low-level" contamination, says a report by the UN Environment Programme (Unep).

"We did not find levels of radioactivity that could pose a direct threat to the environment or to human health.

"Nevertheless, we strongly recommend taking precautionary measures," said Unep Executive Director Klaus Toepfer.

Wave of alarm

The six sites were in the Presevo valley region of southern Serbia and at Cape Arza in Montenegro. Contamination was found at five of them.

"The most important concern is the potential for future groundwater contamination by corroding penetrators (ammunition tips made out of DU)," the report says.

Any soil disturbance at these sites could risk releasing DU particles in the air

Team leader Pekka Haavisto

US forces used DU armour-piercing munitions during the 78-day air campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999, as well as in Bosnia in 1994 and 1995.

The UN's investigation follows a wave of alarm about the possible effects of DU weapons that swept Europe last year.

Former Nato soldiers and civilians in the region are concerned that the radioactivity in the weapons could be a health hazard.

Surprise

Most scientists agree that it is dangerous to inhale high concentrations of microscopic dust dispersed in the air at the moment the shells explode.

The UN report emphasises that the greatest danger now is that people might touch any pieces of DU that remain.

The head of the Unep assessment team, Pekka Haavisto, said: "The team was surprised to find DU particles in the air two years after the conflict's end."

"Any soil disturbance at these sites could risk releasing DU particles in the air," he added.

The sites have been fenced off and signposted by authorities in keeping with recommendations issued after a similar report on Kosovo last year.

Decontamination work has also begun, Unep says.