Depleted uranium is also used as a shielding material in some containers used to store and transport radioactive materials. While the metal itself is radioactive, its high density makes it more effective than lead in halting radiation from strong sources such as radium. Other uses of depleted uranium include counterweights for aircraft control surfaces, as ballast for missile re-entry vehicles and as a shielding material. Due to its high density, this material is found in inertial guidance systems and in gyroscopic compasses. Depleted uranium is preferred over similarly dense metals due to its ability to be easily machined and cast as well as its relatively low cost. The main risk of exposure to depleted uranium is chemical poisoning by uranium oxide rather than radioactivity (uranium being only a weak alpha emitter). 

The discovery and isolation of radium in uranium ore (pitchblende) by Marie Curie sparked the development of uranium mining to extract the radium, which was used to make glow-in-the-dark paints for clock and aircraft dials. This left a prodigious quantity of uranium as a waste product, since it takes three tonnes of uranium to extract one gram of radium. This waste product was diverted to the glazing industry, making uranium glazes very inexpensive and abundant. Besides the pottery glazes, uranium tile glazes accounted for the bulk of the use, including common bathroom and kitchen tiles which can be produced in green, yellow, mauve, black, blue, red and other colors.
What is used to shield radioactive waste?
Give an example of radioactive material it might shield
Is depleted uranium a metal?
Is it radioactive?
Is it dense?
What else is it used for?
Is it expensive?
What is the main risk of its use?
Who discovered radium?
Radium is a part of what ore?
What were the original uses of radium?
How much uranium is needed to get a gram of radium?
How is the waste utilized?
Is uranium glaze cheap?
What product is the glazed used upon?
In which colors?
Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is also used as a shielding material in some containers
radium
 radiation from strong sources such as radium
yes
While the metal itself is radioactive
yes
While the metal itself is radioactive
yes
its high density makes it more effective than lead
counterweights for aircraft control surfaces
Other uses of depleted uranium include counterweights for aircraft control surfaces
no
as well as its relatively low cost. 
chemical poisoning by uranium oxide
The main risk of exposure to depleted uranium is chemical poisoning by uranium oxide
Marie Curie
The discovery and isolation of radium in uranium ore (pitchblende) by Marie Curie
uranium ore
radium in uranium ore 
glow-in-the-dark paints for clock and aircraft dials
 which was used to make glow-in-the-dark paints for clock and aircraft dials
three tonnes
 since it takes three tonnes of uranium to extract one gram of radium. 
the glazing industry,
 This waste product was diverted to the glazing industry, 
yes
This waste product was diverted to the glazing industry, making uranium glazes very inexpensive and abundant.
common bathroom and kitchen tiles
, uranium tile glazes accounted for the bulk of the use, including common bathroom and kitchen tiles
green, yellow, mauve, black, blue, red and other colors
which can be produced in green, yellow, mauve, black, blue, red and other colors