On the Hungarian Environmental Effect of the NATO Attacks in Yugoslavia

Andor Kerekes, Antonio C. Cuellar, Ibolya Maschek, and György J. Köteles

Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, Fodor József National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
   
Corresponding author: Dr. Andor Kerekes
    Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene
    Fodor József National Center for Public Health
    P.O. Box 101, H-1775 Budapest, Hungary
    Tel./Fax: (36-1) 229-1931
    E-mail: kerekes@hp.osski.hu

CEJOEM 1999, Vol.5. No.3-4.:286-290


Key words:
Air monitoring, alpha spectrometry, 238U activity concentration, natural uranium, depleted uranium
 

Abstract:
Because of the intensive NATO bombardment of the neighboring region to Hungary, i.e. Vojvodina, North Yugoslavia, air monitoring for detection of depleted uranium particles supposed to be used as component of bullets was extended to the Southern region of the country. Alpha spectrometry was applied as a sensitive analytical technique able to detect uranium. Though no depleted uranium was detected in air by the sensitive technique of alpha-spectrometry, the increased uranium content in natural ratio as a component of normal soil, natural gas, etc. is suggested to originate from well dispersed dust (2.5 (µm size) emitted to the atmosphere by explosions of bombing. This observation is supported by the geographical distribution and the relatively rapid decrease of pollution after the bomb attacks ceased.


Received:  16 February 2000
Accepted:  24 February 2000

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