ABSTRACT: Depleted uranium munitions are used during combat because they are extremely effective. However, in winning these battles through use of uranium munitions we have contaminated air, water, and soil. Consequently, children, women, and men have inhaled, ingested, or got wounds contaminated with uranium. Uranium is a heavy metal and radioactive poison. The toxicity is not debatable as the Director of the U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute stated in a congressionally mandated report that "No available technology can significantly change the inherent chemical and radiological toxicity of DU. These are intrinsic properties of uranium" (Health and Environmental Consequences of Depleted Uranium Use in the U.S. Army: Technical Report, AEPI, June 1995).
When will the mainstream press stop sitting on this story?
2 comments:
Bruce: I really like reading your blog. It is always thought provoking. This subject has been previously discussed here, and I commented and gave reference of a scientific study on the matter. Apparently this issue pushes your button; however, the report cited is junk science. Please Google for the report "Health and Environmental Consequences of Depleted Uranium Use in the U.S. Army" cited and review the Report to Congress (you can get the technical report there also) you will not find the inflammatory language and the pulled out of context quotes.
Let's face the facts: War is horrible. There are terrible consequences that result, but DU is not the sum of all evil and it's use undoubtly saved many lives of our troops. Our government should not be slipshod in the use or cleanup of DU and in the care of our soldiers and others who would enter the battlefield but some amount of reason is needed as we consider the risks which are inherent in DU and in the world in general.
From the findings of the Summary report to Congress:
"The battlefield is contaminated with many dangerous things. The impact of DU contamination on the battlefield is not well defined. Relative to many of the other hazards, such as unexploded ordnance, the hazards associated with DU contamination are probably small; however, additional environmental modeling and data are needed to support this judgment."
My comment-there is still work to do but suggesting that this matter is real but being ignored by the mainstream media needs to be reconsidered. It may not be reported because it does not have a factual base.
Stephen,
I appreciate your comments and the admittedly impressive research that you cite.
I confess that I am not qualified to confirm what is either junk science or real science regarding depleted uranium.
I monitor the story for two reasons. I have been in this position before on at least two occassions. Once when a friend who worked at Sandia labs advised me that concerns about exposure to radiation were overblown. Ironically, he died of leukemia. I have no way of knowing whether or not his illness was related to hazards associated with his work around radioactive materials. The other time was shortly after the Viet Nam war when some insisted that concerns about Agent Orange were overblown.
On issues like these, I am inclined to follow the advice of Ronald Reagan -- "Trust, but verify."
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