1. Akademija Nauka I Umjetnosti Republike Srpske, Akademija nauka i umjetnosti Republike Srpske,
Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
During NATO operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 and in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999, several tons of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition were used across the Balkan region, with a significant number of penetrators remaining in the soil after the conflicts ended. It is estimated that approximately 3 tons of depleted uranium were used in the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while around 10 tons were used in Serbia and Montenegro. Although immediately after the conflicts attention was focused on radioactive particles and penetrator fragments, long-term corrosion of the remaining projectiles is now considered one of the most important environmental aspects of their presence in the environment. This review paper analyzes the oxidation and corrosion processes of depleted uranium penetrators, the mechanisms of uranium(VI) uranyl ion (UO22+) formation and secondary uranium(VI) mineral phases, as well as the factors controlling uranium migration through soil and groundwater, which increases health risks. Available data show that corrosion of metallic uranium leads to the gradual transformation of poorly soluble U(IV) into mobile U(VI) species, primarily the uranyl ion and secondary minerals such as schoepite, metaschoepite, and becquerelite. In the presence of oxygen, moisture, and microorganisms, corrosion products with significantly higher solubility and mobility are formed compared to primary uranium oxides, enabling their migration through the soil profile. Field investigations conducted in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina showed that penetrators found 18 months after the conflict had experienced a mass loss of 2–8%, while their complete degradation was estimated to take approximately 15–35 years, depending on geochemical conditions. At some contaminated sites in Serbia, activity concentrations of up to 2.3 × 106 Bq/kg for 238U and up to 3,251 Bq/kg for 235U were recorded, with confirmed presence of depleted uranium in soil samples around impact locations. Experimental and field studies have shown uranium migration through the soil profile to a depth of approximately 40 cm over a period of 7 years, where moisture content, carbonates, redox potential, and microbiological activity play key roles in the formation and transport of U(VI). Although previous studies have generally not indicated contamination of drinking water in Serbia, the results confirm that corrosion products of remaining penetrators represent an active and long-term secondary source of uranium(VI) in the Balkan environment. Given the time elapsed since their use, it can be expected that a significant portion of the originally deposited depleted uranium has already been transformed into mobile oxidative products, which justifies the need for continuous monitoring of soil and groundwater, risk assessment for the population, and implementation of remediation measures at sites where remaining penetrators are still present. A review of the literature indicates insufficient investigation of contaminated sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which limits the formulation of comprehensive conclusions.
Ključne reči :
Tematska oblast:
SIMPOZIJUM D - Ekološki održivi materijali
Datum:
23.06.2026.
Contemporary Materials 2026 - Savremeni Materijali
