Bill on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:14:02 -0700
typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

a long time ago, a major commercial transport airplane then in
production used depleted uranium counterweights - we kept the test
article in a paint can - there is some issue with the dust from those
shells, I believe the metallic dust is toxic, however the article is
about 98.974% nonsense, I agree.

The dust is toxic - heavy metal poisoning kind of toxic.

But alpha emitters that get "stuck" in the body, either by
inhaling or ingesting the dust, are a cause for concern.
--
pyotr
Go not to the Net for answers, for it will tell you Yes and no. And
you are a bloody fool, only an ignorant cretin would even ask the
question, forty two, 47, the second door, and how many blonde lawyers
does it take to change a lightbulb.