Depleted Uranium Update
The Ministry of “Defence” claims DU munitions are preferred as the most
effective against tank and other armour. Elsewhere this is challenged
by claims about tungsten. Already some DU weapons are being decommissioned
and returned to the US. Estimated tonnage dropped on Iraq by Britain is:
1 in 1991; 2 in 2003. The US, it is reported, dropped 400 tonnes on Iraq
in 1991. It is general knowledge DU dust is highly toxic, though radiation
is low level. On impact DU discharges a cloud of invisibly small particles.
These are initially insoluble and it is accepted research is needed to
show the effects of environment on corrosion and solubility. The dust
contaminates ground and water. Studies show the dust still present years
after conflicts. The dust can be ingested through mouth and nose, whence
it can circulate the entire body. You might expect common sense would
dictate that DU contamination be avoided. That’s what precipitated the
closure of test sites in areas of America susceptible to articulate and
voter sensitivities. Foreigners fare less well.
The Ministry of “Defence” enthusiastically sites studies which fail to
establish evidence of causality between low-level-radiation exposure and
illness. DU is not exonerated, yet is touted and used as if totally risk
free. Weapons are intentionally lethal. DU is double-action; the impact
and the residual poisonous radioactive dust. Studies show unusual clusters
of leukaemia amongst NATO Bosnian conflict veterans. There was considerable
fuss about “Gulf War Syndrome”. Veterans are subject to stress, pollutants,
inappropriate medication, and combat, with consequent health problems.
Signs are of some illness from radiation poisoning – not well publicised.
Not everyone is affected equally; we don’t know exactly why. Children
are more vulnerable. Studies of Chernobyl children confirm it. Official
risk assessments of the effects of low-level-radiation poisoning may be
understated by 300%. Those most vulnerable to exposure are resident populations
from contaminated areas of Iraq and Bosnia; where little official monitoring
and medical research is available. Local anecdotal and statistical evidence
show that where DU dust contamination is present increased cancer incidence
may be 250% up. Valuable opportunity to establish the link by scientific
proof is being wasted. Chris Busby of the Low Level Radiation Campaign
says: “The difference between external and internal exposure to low-level-radiation
is like the difference between warming yourself near the fire, and swallowing
hot coals.”
American physicist Doug Rokke said of DU: “You take solid radioactive
waste, throw it is somebody’s back yard and refuse to clean it up. That’s
what we’ve done.”
In conversation, Chris Busby and Kate Hudson (CND) agreed that Depleted
Uranium poisoning be given greater prominence by CND. It is after all
a nuclear weapon in all but name.
Dr. Lewis Moonie, Under-Secretary of State for “Defence”, March 2001:
…“indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction (are) specifically designed
to incapacitate or kill large numbers of people.” He exempted Depleted
Uranium from this category.
Noel Hamel 7 February 2004.