Members of the Defence Forces who have served in the Balkans will be screened for the potential effects of radiation from depleted uranium sources in the region, it was announced today.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith, said today that while there was no immediate cause for concern, the medical records of all Balkan veterans would be checked.
An Army medical team is due to arrive in Kosovo and Bosnia later this week in order to measure radiation levels where the troops have been stationed and if necessary determine subsequent screening procedures.
Mr Smith made the announcement on the eve of the departure of a 51-strong military police company for service in Bosnia.
"I am not prepared to take any risk insofar as the health of our personnel is concerned," he said.
"When the medical and ordnance team returns from Kosovo and Bosnia next week, the type and scope of the necessary screening programme for personnel who have served in the Balkans can be identified.
"This is being done to provide reassurance for the personnel and their families and not because we have any reason to believe that there is a general medical problem."
There are currently 100 Irish troops stationed 15km from Pristina, in Kosovo, and a further 50 stationed in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
A total of about 700 have been on duty in the region. It is not believed the areas where they were stationed have been affected by dangerous levels of radioactivity.
Fears that the highly radioactive depleted uranium, which is used in shell casings to improve effectiveness, could cause a health risk were allayed by studies carried out on Gulf War veterans. These found no evidence of negative effects.