Over 15 years ago, munitions with depleted uranium were used at five locations near Vranje, Bujanovac and Presevo. All those areas were decontaminated and missiles with depleted uranium were removed from them. According to the Agency for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and Nuclear Safety of Serbia’s report, the water, soil and plant life in those areas are in order.   

Experts of the “Vinca” Institute of Nuclear Sciences and the Army of Serbia completed the decontamination of land in Borovac near Bujanovac in 2005.  400 kilograms of soil and 59 missiles were removed from almost 5,000 m2 of land.  

The water, soil and plants in these areas were examined. The “Dragomir Karajovic” and “Vinca” institutes forwarded their results to the Agency for Protection against Ionizing Radiation, while the water was taken from wells and public water fountains and the soil from a depth of 10-15 centimeters. It turned out that the samples were in order and it was, thus, concluded that the risk of artificially produced radionuclides was negligible.

Although the number of people suffering from malignant diseases in the Pcinj district increased,  experts didn’t confirm that the increase in the number of malignant patients was associated with the munitions containing depleted uranium.

“I believe that there is no threat of the consequences of depleted uranium,  because there are many risk factors causing the emergence of the sick, as well as the  increasing rates of morbidity and mortality from malignant diseases, such as smoking and stress”,  said Erzika Antic,  the Head of the Institute of Public Health in Vranje.

The Institute of Public Health is controlling the water from Pljackovica, which has so far been safe for drinking. The water from 32 springs, reservoirs and wells in the households from Pljackovica to Sveti Ilija is being examined, too.

Source: Serbian Broadcasting Corporation and Coordination Body