ZAGREB, Jan 8, 2001 -- (Reuters) Croatia will ask NATO to clarify whether the Adriatic Sea may have been contaminated by depleted uranium contained in bombs used in a 1999 aerial campaign against Yugoslavia, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Monday.

"Yes, we shall ask for precise information about the possible contamination of the Adriatic, for very understandable reasons. This government has to ensure safe living conditions in its territory," Racan told a news conference.

During NATO's extensive bombing campaign of neighboring Yugoslavia in spring 1999, bombers flying back to bases in Italy released dumped unexploded missiles into the Adriatic before landing.

It has never been made clear if those missiles contained depleted uranium or if the material could have leaked into the sea.

NATO has come under increasing pressure from several European governments over claims that depleted uranium used in its weapons has caused death or illness among Balkan peacekeepers -- dubbed "Balkans Syndrome".

Italy, France and Russia have called on NATO to examine the claims and Portugal has begun testing military and civilian personnel who served in the Balkans.

The United Nations says it has found evidence of radioactivity at eight of 11 sites tested in Kosovo after they were struck by NATO ammunition with depleted uranium.

Depleted uranium is used in the tips of missiles, shells and bullets to increase their ability to penetrate armor and can be pulverized on impact into a toxic radioactive dust, defense experts say.