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From: drickter@BRL.MIL
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Depleted Uranium Ammo
Message-ID: <15518@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 12 Apr 90 00:57:49 GMT
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From:     drickter@BRL.MIL

In article <15378@cbnews.ATT.COM> sagpd1!jharkins@uunet.UU.NET (Jim Harkins) writes:
>
>
>From: sagpd1!jharkins@uunet.UU.NET (Jim Harkins)
>
>Is depleted uranium radioactive?  If so, how do they store it, both in ammo
>dumps and on the A-10? .....
>
>[mod.note:  DU is "mildly" radioactive, being a fairly stable uranium
>isotope.  Can any of you put a number to that "mildly" ? - Bill ]
>

based on dose rates (determined by uploading an M3A1 (cavalry fighting
vehicle (cfv) version of the bradley fighting vehicle system (bfvs)) the
two scouts in the rear of the vehicle would experience approximately 0.27
millirems per hour (mrem/hr) of gamma exposure, based on the stowage of
ammo, etc.  gamma radiation is considered the most harmful as it is able
to penetrate the skin and would most likely affect internal organs after
long term exposure.

also, the nuclear regulatory commission has established maximum safety 
limits for the exposure to both gamma and beta radiation. (beta radiation
is a non-penetrating radiation and therefore presents only minimal
concern to those exposed.)  the gamma limit is 5000 mrem/yr.  so if you
figure out how long someone (soldier, etc) would be exposed to the
radiation per year, the dose rate is determined.  ie., if a solier spends
up to 1200 hrs in the rear of a cfv, he will have the potential of 
receiving approx. 324 mrem/yr. (the number of hours are just made up !!)

this also answers a previous question as to du ammuntion for the bfvs.
yes, there is a new 25mm round which is du - M919.

the results above are from a first look at radiation levels within the
bfvs.  they may not be completely correct, but i think it gives an idea
of dose rates for 25mm ammo.  it must also be noted that 25mm ammo
is carried within the vehicle, close to its occupants.  this may not
be the case with other vehicles which utilize du ammo (ground or air).


donna hartka