Are 'depleted' uranium bullets our government's answer to the nuclear waste disposal problem?

Question

Does anyone know what the long-term effects of this may be?

Answer 1

The same as lead, in fact, deplete uranium is also used to shield highly radioactive materials.  The toxicity comes from heavy metal poisoning if it's ingested, just like lead, gold, tin, silver, or any other heavy metal.

The radioactivity level is negiligible.  You're in much more danger when you make popcorn in your microwave.

Interestingly enough, I just read an article about how much more of a resource depleted uranium has become recently.   Scientists are studying how to reprocess and reenrich it to make fuel for reactors.

Answer 2

depleted means NO radioactivity is in them...

Answer 3

no depleted uranium (u 238) has had all the radioactive isotopes removed.

the isotopes are still radioactive & have to be safely stored or disposed of.

Answer 4

In fact, depleted uranium is used to 'down-blend' weapons-grade stuff for use in nuclear reactors.  The waste disposal problem is the 'spent fuel' from the reactors which is *very* radioactive, and the 'low-level waste' which is practically harmless, but has to be handled according to many regulations.