Concerns are growing across Europe over the possible health effects of exposure to depleted uranium after a fifth Italian soldier who had served in Bosnia-Herzegovina died of cancer.

Depleted uranium shells were first used in the Gulf War in 1991 and again during NATO air operations in the Balkans.

The Italian media reported another four soldiers were undergoing tests for a variety of health problems linked to what has become known as Balkans Syndrome.

Several cases of cancer have been diagnosed in Belgian and Dutch soldiers who spent time in the Balkans; Spain and Portugal have said they'll conduct investigations.

The governments of the United States and Britain insist that munitions using depleted uranium do not pose a long-term hazard. Depleted uranium is waste obtained from producing fuel for nuclear reactors and atomic bombs, and is less radioactive than pure uranium.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

Giova a questo punto ricordare la risposta negativa di BANCA ETICA alla nostra richiesta di finanziamento nel gennaio scorso, che era destinato a realizzare un CD-ROM con tutti i documenti da noi raccolti sul problema uranio-impoverito, a beneficio dei volontari, dei militari e dei residenti nei Balcani. Caro Dario Fo, non basta per una Banca nascondersi dietro la parola "ETICA", bisogna anche metterla in pratica, ti pare?