OK. Explain DU (depleted uranium) to me.

[Robb]

I understand the basics, that when it gets burned it aerosolizes, and those particles are really bad for people. And I know that long-term exposure to small amounts is also really bad.

But what levels are we talking about here? I know there was lots of the stuff left on battlefields in Iraq and elsewhere; but how about a handful of tipped bullets, or a single tank shell dropped in a fire? Is that going to be bad for you, or send your home radiation meter angrily buzzing away?

[Booberdawg]

1. Not enough for regular DU membesrs, I suspect

But it might be enough for Americans in general. Not sure :shrug:

[dudeness]

2. hope this article helps

snip...The sanctions issue is one of three related scandals involving epic suffering and loss of life. The truth about the effects of depleted uranium in shells fired in the 1991 Gulf war and Nato's 1999 attack on Yugoslavia, is that the Americans and British waged a form of nuclear warfare on civilian populations, disregarding the health and safety of their own troops. This was largely to test the Pentagon's post-cold war strategy of "all-out war".

On 9 January, John Spellar, the Defence Minister, told the House of Commons that the conclusion of many years of research showed "there is no evidence linking DU to cancers or to the more general ill health being experienced by some Gulf veterans". This echoes Peter Hain, who said there had been "no credible research data". In fact, the data is credible and voluminous, dating back to the development of the atomic bomb in 1943, when Brigadier General Leslie Groves, the head of the Manhattan Project, warned that particles of uranium used in ammunition could cause "permanent lung damage". In 1991, the UK Atomic Energy Authority warned that, if particles from merely 8 per cent of the DU used in the Gulf were inhaled, there could be "300,000 potential deaths"....snip

http://pilger.carlton.com/iraq/articles/43677

[w4rma]

3. It is my understanding that "depleted" uranium is not always depleted

Depleted uranium: war hazard?

BALTIMORE (December 28, 2002) —
Dr. Doug Rokke has a disturbing habit of laughing when he should probably be crying.

He laughs when he talks about battlefields contaminated with radioactive waste. He can't stop laughing when he talks about what he claims is a massive government cover-up. And he keeps laughing when he talks about his health problems, which he attributes to deliberate Army negligence, and which will likely kill him.
…
http://www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid=1687

The Science of the Silver Bullet
Depleted uranium has been hailed as the military’s new silver bullet and condemned as Kosovo’s Agent Orange
…
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0003C801-90E4-1C75-9B81809EC588EF21

In Depth | Depleted Uranium
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/europe/2001/depleted_uranium/default.stm

[German-Lefty]

4. It's pretty damn evil

Here are some links:
http://www.cadu.org.uk
http://www.iacenter.org/depleted/mettoc.htm

The department of energy has tons of nuclear waste, and they figuared that we could just dump it on coutries we're at war with. You have to use lots of it, to get the massive projectiles that can penetrate armour so well.

The worst part is it'll stay around for centuries and kill people all over the planet. It's estimated nuclear tests cost 100,000 lives due to increased disease.

Veterans groups are pretty sure Gulf War Syndrom was caused partly by this.

It's agent Orange all over again.

[German-Lefty]

6. What is Depleted Uranium?

The misnamed 'Depleted' Uranium is left after enriched uranium is separated from natural uranium in order to produce fuel for nuclear reactors. During this process, the fissionable isotope Uranium 235 is separated from uranium. The remaining uranium, which is 99.8% uranium 238 is misleadingly called 'depleted uranium'. While the term 'depleted' implies it isn't particularly dangerous, in fact, this waste product of the nuclear industry is 'conveniently' disposed of by producing deadly weapons.

Depleted uranium is chemically toxic. It is an extremely dense, hard metal, and can cause chemical poisoning to the body in the same way as can lead or any other heavy metal. However, depleted uranium is also radiologically hazardous, as it spontaneously burns on impact, creating tiny aerosolised glass particles which are small enough to be inhaled. These uranium oxide particles emit all types of radiation, alpha, beta and gamma, and can be carried in the air over long distances. Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.5 billion years, and the presence of depleted uranium ceramic aerosols can pose a long term threat to human health and the environment.

Just a little repost. Hope you don't mind.
http://www.cadu.org.uk/intro.htm

[NNN0LHI]

5. Here is the best source for DU weapons I have seen

http://www.csmonitor.com/atcsmonitor/specials/uranium/

Depleted Uranium

Depleted uranium is created as a by-product of the processes used to convert natural uranium for use as nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons.

NATO used ammunition and weaponry made of depleted uranium during its air strikes on Yugoslavia in 1999. Suspicious deaths and illnesses among Europeans exposed to the substance are prompting investigators to examine DU's health risks. The United States has denied any link between illnesses and exposure to depleted uranium.

The Trail of a Bullet series:

Remains of toxic bullets litter Iraq
The Monitor finds high levels of radiation left by US armor-piercing shells in Iraq.
By Scott Peterson 05-15-03

A 'silver bullet's' toxic legacy
If US fights Iraq, it would use a weapon that left a radioactive trail in Gulf War.
By Scott Peterson 12-20-02

Depleted uranium concerns boost nonradioactive bullet
The European Parliament Wednesday called for a suspension of DU use pending a study.
By Scott Peterson 01-18-01

Bullet debate: Answers in Iraq?
NATO chief has pledged openness on the long-term dangers of depleted-uranium rounds in Kosovo.
By Scott Peterson 01-11-01

Aftershocks from anti-tank shells
EU and NATO officials meet, as concern mounts over the use of depleted uranium bullets.
By Scott Peterson 01-09-01

The Trail of a Bullet
New evidence emerges of radioactive contamination in Kosovo. The Pentagon isn't talking.
By Scott Peterson 10-05-99

US reluctance to talk about DU
International attempts to assess the risks from depleted uranium (DU) are being thwarted by American reluctance to pinpoint where it was used.
By Scott Peterson 10-05-99

Pentagon stance on DU a moving target
Amid official attempts to nail down 'protection guidelines' for those confronting depleted uranium, Gulf War veterans press for clarity. And the prospect of DU's use in Kosovo raises the stakes.
By Scott Peterson 04-30-99

[Divernan]

7. DU is what is avoided by handling training in Hungary of Iraqi police.

By setting up the training program of 28,000 Iraqi police in Hungary,
the individuals doing the training - and I bet dollars to doughnuts they will be private contractors, will not be exposed to the dangers of Iraq, including depleted uranium. You probably read that the reason a lot of private contractors backed out on their work in Iraq was that the private insurers for their employers projected skyhigh, profit-gutting, health insurance increases for any employee setting foot in Iraq.

[Ilsa]

8. From Bringthemhomenow.org

It's just a snippet, but you can be certain the military families are worried about it.

http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/stand/du.html

snip
"Many troops in Iraq are being exposed to some level of DU, and the exposure this time may be far more long-term. The longer troops stay in theater if they are in a contaminated area, the more exposure they will have. DU is also toxic to the kidneys, and is known to cause cancer from inhalation. It is reasonable to assume that neither skin exposure nor swallowing particles of DU is wise.

The exposure to DU combined with the exposure to extensive combustion products from oil fires and blowing sand from the desert environment, however, is unique and the extent of exposure to respiratory irritants during this war was probably greater than in previous wars. These exposures for some soldiers may be more intense and more sustained now than they were in 1991."

[stickdog]

9. Sandstorms and DU.

Get it?

[xJlM]

10. Where's that guy who said DU is good for you?

I know I read some comments recently from someone who maintained that depleted uranium was no worse for you than exposure to morning sunshine...