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>=There's been no WHO study of DU, as the Pentagon says there has been (see below). The WHO has said they were going into Iraq to study DU, a few years ago, and the initiative has stayed in the pre-planning stage, largely, some of us believe, because of resistance from the US, although we can't prove it. There's been no public health study of Iraq and DU, or of Veterans and DU that's received government funding. Public health study, meaning hundreds of respondents, tests etc, etc. This article and this statement by the Pentagon needs to be refuted strongly, Philippa Winkler ==== Original Message From Jo Baker <jobak17@yahoo.co.uk> ===== >[ Presenting plain-text part of multi-format email ] > > > > >> >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2946715.stm >> >> US rejects Iraq DU clean-up >> >> By Alex Kirby >> BBC News Online environment correspondent >> >> >> The US says it has no plans to remove the debris >> left >> over from depleted uranium (DU) weapons it is using >> in >> Iraq. >> >> DU shells can go straight through the side of a tank >> >> It says no clean-up is needed, because research >> shows >> DU has no long-term effects. >> >> It says a 1990 study suggesting health risks to >> local >> people and veterans is out of date. >> >> A United Nations study found DU contaminating air >> and >> water seven years after it was used. >> >> DU, left over after natural uranium has been >> enriched, >> is 1.7 times denser than lead, and very effective >> for >> punching through armoured vehicles. >> >> When a weapon with a DU tip or core strikes a solid >> object, like the side of a tank, it goes straight >> through before erupting in a burning cloud of >> vapour. >> This settles as chemically poisonous and radioactive >> dust. >> >> Risk studies >> >> Both the US and the UK acknowledge the dust can be >> dangerous if inhaled, though they say the danger is >> short-lived, localised, and much more likely to lead >> to chemical poisoning than to irradiation. >> >> One thing we've found in these various studies is >> that >> there are no long-term effects from DU >> >> Lieutenant-Colonel David Lapan, Pentagon spokesman >> But a study prepared for the US Army in July 1990, a >> month before Iraq invaded Kuwait, says: "The health >> risks associated with internal and external DU >> exposure during combat conditions are certainly far >> less than other combat-related risks. >> >> "Following combat, however, the condition of the >> battlefield and the long-term health risks to >> natives >> and combat veterans may become issues in the >> acceptability of the continued use of DU." >> >> A Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel David >> Lapan, >> told BBC News Online: "Since then there've been a >> number of studies - by the UK's Royal Society and >> the >> World Health Organisation, for example - into the >> health risks of DU, or the lack of them. >> >> "It's fair to say the 1990 study has been overtaken >> by >> them. One thing we've found in these various studies >> is that there are no long-term effects from DU. >> >> "And given that, I don't believe we have any plans >> for >> a DU clean-up in Iraq." >> >> Part of the armoury >> >> The UN Environment Programme study, published in >> March >> 2003, found DU in air and groundwater in >> Bosnia-Herzegovina seven years after the weapons >> were >> fired. >> >> The UN says the existing data suggest it is "highly >> unlikely" DU could be linked to any of the health >> problems reported. >> >> But it recommends collecting DU fragments, covering >> contaminated points with asphalt or clean soil, and >> keeping records of contaminated sites. >> >> Reports from Baghdad speak of repeated attacks by US >> aircraft carrying DU weapons on high-rise buildings >> in >> the city centre. >> >> The UK says: "British forces on deployment to the >> Gulf >> have DU munitions available as part of their >> armoury, >> and will use them if necessary." It will not confirm >> they have used them. >> >> Many veterans from the Gulf and Kosovo wars believe >> DU >> has made them seriously ill. >> >> One UK Gulf veteran is Ray Bristow, a former >> marathon >> runner. >> >> In 1999 he told the BBC: "I gradually noticed that >> every time I went out for a run my distance got >> shorter and shorter, my recovery time longer and >> longer. >> >> "Now, on my good days, I get around quite adequately >> with a walking stick, so long as it's short >> distances. >> Any further, and I need to be pushed in a >> wheelchair." >> >> >> Ray Bristow was tested in Canada for DU. He is >> open-minded about its role in his condition. >> >> But he says: "I remained in Saudi Arabia throughout >> the war. I never once went into Iraq or Kuwait, >> where >> these munitions were used. >> >> "But the tests showed, in layman's terms, that I >> have >> been exposed to over 100 times an individual's safe >> annual exposure to depleted uranium." >> This email is intended only for the above named >> addressee(s). The information contained in this >> email >> may contain information which is confidential. The >> views expressed in this email are personal to the >> sender and do not in any way reflect the views of >> the >> company. >> >> If you have received this email and you are not a >> named addressee, please contact the sender and then >> delete it from your system. >> >> >> __________________________________________________ >> Yahoo! Plus >> For a better Internet experience >> http://www.yahoo.co.uk/btoffer > >__________________________________________________ >Yahoo! Plus >For a better Internet experience >http://www.yahoo.co.uk/btoffer > > > > >--------------------------------- >Yahoo! Plus - For a better Internet experience > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. >To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss >To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk >All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk