Defence Force personnel who may have been exposed to depleted uranium in the Balkans or the Persian Gulf will be tested for cancer.

Brigadier Clive Lilley, who is leading an investigation into possible exposure of New Zealand soldiers to depleted uranium, said screening would be initiated immediately for those involved. Concern is mounting that depleted uranium may be the cause of serious illnesses in soldiers who served in the Balkans conflict or the Gulf War after several European soldiers who served in Kosovo developed cancer.

New Zealand personnel selected for screening will receive urine and blood tests and, where results are abnormal, further tests will be done to assess possible causes of abnormality and whether further surveillance is required.

"Early results from our investigation indicate some service personnel may have been in the vicinity of debris from depleted uranium munitions," Brigadier Lilley said. "These service personnel will be further interviewed by the investigation team to assess whether they were engaged in an activity that would have brought them into contact with depleted uranium residue, or were simply in an affected area at some time later," he said.

"Some of our people have reported being in a general area some many months after depleted uranium munitions were used and we are seeking further information from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) to assess if the potential hazard is time-limited," he said.  The Defence Force has sent out more than 1500 questionnaires to servicemen and women who spent time in the Balkans or the Persian Gulf, with the aim of identifying those who may have been exposed.  However, only 364 people have responded so far and the Defence Force is having trouble locating more than 300 former soldiers who served in the Balkans and the Persian Gulf.