Depleted Uranium, Increased Risk

[TheStripey1]

I find it extremely distasteful that we are spreading our nuclear waste willynilly in other countries in the name of liberation, freedom and democracy. It's a crime, pure and simple. IMO, the billions of people that will die as a result of ingesting this crap are the responsibility of those that support it's use in warfare, be they military or civilian.

Depleted Uranium, Increased Risk
Weapons the Department of Defense claims are harmless have serious and lasting effects.

By Perry O’Brien, Cornell University
September 5, 2007


...snip

For the Department of Defense, DU is cheap and readily available: The Cold War left the United States with about half a million tons of the stuff.

The thing the DoD often doesn’t like to talk about is that depleted uranium is both radioactive and toxic, putting its use in violation of some basic tenets of the Geneva Conventions. Defenders of DU (mainly the United States and Britain) have argued that it’s perfectly safe to hold a sabot round in your hand. That’s probably true, but when a sabot round hits its target, much of the shell aerosolizes into a ceramic dust that can enter the soil. This dust contaminates food and water supplies and can be inhaled or absorbed into the body through open wounds. A variety of critics, including veterans’ organizations, independent researchers, and the European Parliament, have charged that this dust has created serious health problems for exposed soldiers and civilians. If it’s as toxic as they say, then the use of DU violates at least three international laws.

...snip

DU is a radioactive substance. The Defense Department points out that alpha waves emitted by DU are stopped by human skin. But on the battlefield a DU weapon can easily enter the body as dust or metal shrapnel. Under international law, this puts DU weapons like the sabot round into the same category with nuclear and chemical weapons that cause “indiscriminate destruction.” A 1990 report for the U.S. Army warned of the radiological dangers to soldiers and civilian populations posed by depleted uranium, but more recent reports funded by the DoD have contradicted these concerns.

...snip

[MtnBiker]

It's a crime, pure and simple. IMO, the billions of people that will die as a result of ingesting this crap

How do you make that exact claim, billions of people dead?

[Nukeman]

I find it extremely distasteful that we are spreading our nuclear waste willynilly in other countries in the name of liberation, freedom and democracy. It's a crime, pure and simple. IMO, the billions of people that will die as a result of ingesting this crap are the responsibility of those that support it's use in warfare, be they military or civilian.

Far fewer people will be exposed to the dangers of DU than have already been exposed and continue to be from the Cherenobl reactor.

DU is a Alpha emitter and can be stopped with a simple piece of paper or skin. If it is the prospect of radioactive dust a simple mask will keep it out of your lungs and a thorough washing of your skin will remove the vast majority of it.

Our bodies are very resiliant to radioactivity as long as it is not in massive doses all at once (LD50).

Our media is very good at presenting the "evils" of radioactive materials yet they are very stingy on true facts and benefits..

In combat the last thing I would be worried about is if the bullet is radioactive or not. I would be more concerned if the other guy is a good shot...