I’d be more concerned about the fire hazard if you scratch it (by your depleted uranium paperweight). It’s like lighter sparkler on steroids, from what i’ve heard. The activity in practice would also depend to how depleted it is (they don’t deplete all the way to 0% u-235), and it better not be “dirty” depleted uranium from fuel re-processing. edit: also to how old it is, as the decay chain won’t be in equilibrium. It will actually get more radioactive over time.
By the way. Depleted uranium is actually used as radiation shielding for e.g. medical irradiation sources, as well as for tank armor, and everyone knows about the ammunition.
I’d be more concerned about the fire hazard if you scratch it (by your depleted uranium paperweight). It’s like lighter sparkler on steroids, from what i’ve heard. The activity in practice would also depend to how depleted it is (they don’t deplete all the way to 0% u-235), and it better not be “dirty” depleted uranium from fuel re-processing. edit: also to how old it is, as the decay chain won’t be in equilibrium. It will actually get more radioactive over time.
By the way. Depleted uranium is actually used as radiation shielding for e.g. medical irradiation sources, as well as for tank armor, and everyone knows about the ammunition.