Investigation of potentially contaminated areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with depleted uranium

Abstract

During Bosnia's war, depleted uranium ammunition was deployed at multiple locations including Hadzici, with approximately three tons deployed. Only partial penetrator uranium removal from surface ground occurred. December 2013 sampling collected ground, moss, and subterranean water samples evaluating two decades of contamination. Radiochemical separation and alpha-spectrometric analysis examined samples. The results of the examination showed that the uranium was present in the amount of 0.6 to 1.8 µg/kg in the ground samples, 0.2 to 7.0 µg/kg in the moss samples and 0.36 to 1.04 µg/L in the subterranean water. Activity ratio ²³⁴U/²³⁸U in three moss and one ground sample indicated depleted uranium presence, while water samples showed natural uranium isotope ratios. Detailed radioactivity examination, radioecology assessment, and population exposure evaluation warrant further investigation.