Skip to main content

Depleted Uranium

Volume 463: debated on Monday 3 September 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the health implications of embedded uranium shrapnel to serving and retired personnel; and if he will make a statement. (151765)

The Ministry of Defence maintains a watching brief on the published scientific literature relating to the health implications of embedded uranium shrapnel. On this basis, our current view is that, although ongoing surveillance of veterans with embedded shrapnel is prudent, there is currently no indication of uranium-related health effects in any of the veterans studied.

As part of this ongoing surveillance, we recently offered follow-up monitoring to the small group of UK veterans found to have depleted uranium in their urine. The current scientific assessment is that there will be no health implications for these veterans.