Health Effects
Uranium has no real biological role, but the radiation it gives off in its pure form is extremely hazardous and is why workers where gloves and protective suits when using it. By having uranium, or any uranium compounds such as U3O8, enter your body in any way, it can lead to kidney failure, but if only a small amount was taken in, your kidneys will repair themselves over a process of several weeks. When your kidneys fail they begin to shrink and wrinkle. The alpha radiation given off by uranium can cause cancer in those who work with it often, but due to the low penetrating ability of alpha particles, you have to be exposed to it for a prolonged time.