http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7373946.stm

If we're using depleted uranium, what's that doing to our troops on the ground, since we already know what it does for birth defects?

why do you think they are using it


just a thought

but hey

what do i know

I'm not sure on the context of your question.

If its why do I think we are using it in afghanistan as a part of armament, the article itself answers the question, which is that the DU rounds are denser and therefore lend themselves to punching through certain armored vehicles types.

If its why do I think we are using it, as in what would my proof be, I would say it's a combination of things, 1: The article itself quotes the spokesman as saying "I don't have any knowledge of what might have been used in 2001 and 2002. If there was an armour threat, the DU rounds would have been used to counter that threat."
That sort of leaves the door wide open, and 2:we are using that type of munition in Iraq.

3: The birth defects can be a indicator of the radioactive residuals that are a byproduct of DU rounds.


It doesn't seem like a very moral way to wage war, by leaving radioactive waste all over the place. It also seems awful counterproductive in the "war against terror", it occurs to me that by leaving a waste that causes several different types of enviromental, physical and reproductive defects would serve as a dramatic recruiting tool for terrorist organizations.

they need to know the effects of the fall out

they have used the military many times as lab rats

my brother was around the after used dp rounds from the tanks and he is just fine. This is another one of those issues that gets blown way out of proportion.

The U.S. has been using depleted uranium since 1991, according to Global Research:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MOR407A.html

On a loosely related note, a British company won approval to explore for uranium in the Grand Canyon:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/washington/07canyon.html

Just fine...Or lucky.

On the outside DU is quite harmless. It is a low-level alpha particle emitter. Fortunately, alpha particles can easily be stopped by a piece of paper! Hence, a soldier can be in contact with a DU-armored tank for years and not see any effects at all! However, DU dust that enters the body can be quite harmful, depending on the amount of exposure. When DU enters the body, alpha particles directly bombard one’s cell tissue. On average 1 in 70,000 human cells that are bombarded from alpha particles emitted from DU turn into cancer cells.14h Hence depending on length of exposure and concentration any person exposed to large amounts of DU would most likely suffer long-term cancer-related effects. Also, remember that DU is very similar to natural uranium (around 99% similar), which is dug up as an ore using conventional mining techniques. It is well known that uranium miners suffer significantly higher levels of cancer related illnesses, respiratory, and digestives related problems from natural uranium dust and radiation.5 Hence it would make much sense that DU exhibit similar characteristics and side effects.



“If DU enters the body, it has the potential to generate significant medical consequences. The risks associated with DU in the body are both chemical and radiological. Personnel inside or near vehicles struck by DU penetrators could receive significant internal exposures.” - Statement by US Army Environmental Policy Institute (statement made after Gulf but not before Kosovo).


http://cseserv.engr.scu.edu/StudentWebPages/IPesic/ResearchPaper.htm

Thats a fine point... Bang... oh I've been gut shot...great, I'm gonna get cancer now!



I think that it was supposed to pertain to those who survived the wound!

I haven't laughed out loud at a post in awhile, Thanks!