Depleted Uranium

One not often mentioned result of war is the environmental damage. And one of these environmental dangers is from depleted uranium (DU). A recent report from NGO's in Iraq discusses "what appear to be widespread, and often lethal, health effects from war contaminants in Iraq, namely Depleted Uranium (DU)"

Natural Uranium is composed of two isotopes U-235 and U-238. But only U-235 is used in nuclear reactors. After U-235 is removed, the remainder is called Depleted Uranium. This is used to make armor-piercing shells because Uranium is very dense. But uranium is an alpha radiation emitter, which means it is toxic if ingested or inhaled. Hence the concern over its use.