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Depleted Uranium

U.S. tank in Iraq

First deployed on a large scale during the Gulf War, the U.S. military uses depleted uranium (DU) for tank armor and some bullets due to its high density, helping it to penetrate enemy armored vehicles.

Uranium is a naturally occurring element that is present in air, water, soil, rocks, plants, and animals. It is a weakly radioactive substance. Depleted Uranium (DU) is a by-product of uranium processing. DU is what remains after some of the more radioactive components (called isotopes) are removed from natural uranium for use in nuclear fuel. Therefore, DU is 40% less radioactive than natural uranium but has the same chemical properties.
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