Concentration and characteristics of depleted uranium in biological and water samples collected in Bosnia and Herzegovina

During Balkan conflicts in 1994–1995, depleted uranium (DU) ordnance was employed and was left in the battlefield. Health concern is related to the risk arising from contamination of the environment with DU penetrators and dust. In order to evaluate the impact of DU on the environment and population in Bosnia and Herzegovina, radiological survey of DU in biological and water samples were carried out over the period 12–24 October 2002. The uranium isotopic concentrations in biological samples collected in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly lichens, mosses and barks, were found to be in the range of 0.27–35.7 Bq kg−1 for 238U, 0.24–16.8 Bq kg−1 for 234U, and 0.02–1.11 Bq kg−1 for 235U, showing uranium levels to be higher than in the samples collected at the control site. Moreover, the 236U in some of the samples was detectable. The isotopic ratios of 234U/238U showed DU to be detectable in many biological samples at most sites examined, but in very low levels. The presence of DU in the biological samples was as a result of DU contamination in air. The uranium concentrations in water samples collected in Bosnia and Herzegovina were found to be in the range of 0.27–16.2 mBq l−1 for 238U, 0.41–15.6 mBq l−1 for 234U and 0.012–0.695 mBq l−1 for 235U, and two water samples were observed to be DU positive; these values are much lower than those in mineral water found in central Italy and below the WHO guideline for public drinking water. From radiotoxicological point of view, at this moment there is no significant radiological risk related to these investigated sites in terms of possible DU contamination of water and/or plants.