But Scharping showed anger at what he said was a U.S. failure to inform and a lack of sensitivity to the public's fear of plutonium pollution of any sort. Spain has ordered its medical experts to investigate and Switzerland said it would call for a total ban on DU ammunition at the United Nations this year. A World Health Organisation team is also due to scour DU blast sites in Kosovo for traces of plutonium. Scharping is also to meet with scientists and physicians on Tuesday evening to determine whether more tests on a possible link between the effects of DU munitions on soldiers and cancer-related illnesses are needed. A U.S. Defense Department spokesman last Thursday confirmed plutonium was detected in DU a year ago and a nuclear plant, already plagued by problems including health safety and environmental violations, was shut for 90 days.
Scientists say that inhaling one millionth of an ounce of plutonium can cause a fatal cancer.
Depleted uranium is prized as the best armour penetrator in anti-tank shells. About 40,000 rounds were fired in Bosnia and Kosovo, all by U.S. ground attack aircraft. Reuters contributed to this report. An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.