The US Department of Defense has released a preliminary report which establishes no link between depleted uranium (DU) exposure and health issues among veterans of the Balkans conflict.

The investigation was conducted chiefly by independent organisations and departments outside of US Defense.

In the process, it considered the findings of similar investigations conducted in the UK and by the World Health Organisation, to come to its findings.

About 10,000 DU rounds were fired in Bosnia and approximately 31,000 were fired in Kosovo.

This equates to nearly 13 tonnes of depleted uranium - significantly less than the 320 tonnes used during the Gulf War.

Concerns about a link between health effects in Balkans veterans and depleted uranium exposure were first raised in European newspaper reports.

NATO has instituted doctrine for operating in environments where depleted uranium may have been used in a military role.