DU:
a Toxic Boomerang
Sheree Craigue
The lies surrounding "depleted" uranium (DU) begin with its name,
which implies that it is worn out, ineffective. A waste product of the nuclear
energy and nuclear weapons industries, DU is about twice as dense as lead, and
is weakly radioactive. The US uses it to make armor-piercing ammunition and
shielding, as well as counterweights for large aircraft. DU ammunition ignites
on impact, creating a fine, radioactive, toxic heavy metal dust, which is easily
airborne. Hundreds of tons of DU weapons and tanks have been used in Iraq and
elsewhere, and several countries have DU weapons in their arsenals. Of the 696,661
Gulf War I vets who served, 185,780 have filed claims for service-related illnesses
or injuries, and 9,600 have died.1
DU on the Roads with Us
DU could be shipped from places like the Seneca Army Depot, in Romulus, NY,
to planes bound for the Middle East. In the event of an accident, firefighters
and first responders would see only an "Explosive" placard. Like the
four sickened National Guards from New York City never warned about DU and denied
adequate testing and medical care, first responders to an accident could inhale
DU dust in the event of an explosion, which could spread for miles.2 The military's
exemption from labeling DU in transport as "Radioactive" expires June
30. (See "Action" box below.)
Military is Aware of Dangers
This effective weapon pierces metal like a knife through butter. A Pentagon
report links DU "to cancer when exposures are internal, [and] chemical
toxicity causing kidney damage.…Short term effects of high doses can result
in death….Combat conditions will lead to the uncontrolled release of DU.…The
conditions 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 kinetic penetrators for military applications."3 A 2002 Department
of Defense report also recognizes risks of cancer, lung fibrosis, and DNA damage
from DU, as well as risk to water and food.4
Army regulations for fires involving DU require that, "personnel or equipment
exiting the fire area are to be monitored for the presence of any DU contamination…[D]econtamination
should be performed."5 Exposures due to smoke from DU fires or dust from
DU require medical screening within 24 hours and then medical care.6 To reliably
test for DU exposure requires a $1,000 spectrometry of a urine sample collected
within hours of exposure.
Who benefits from denial and delay concerning
DU?
The nuclear industry has been giving away tons of DU, a waste product of uranium
"enrichment," for decades: safe disposal is expensive. DU could find
its way into consumer goods. Industry, government, the media, the military:
none of these can be relied upon to be objective about DU. The military has
denounced its own studies, claiming that DU is harmless. To admit otherwise
would imply liability.
The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations and the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a powerful pro-nuclear lobby, have had essentially
interlocking directorates since 1959.7 In an as yet unfinalized 2001 report,
Dr. Baverstock, the top WHO expert on radiation and health warned, "There
is increasing scientific evidence the radioactivity and the chemical toxicity
of DU could cause more damage to human cells than is assumed." He pointed
out that in the dry climate of Iraq, DU would likely be blown about and inhaled
for years. He worries about bombed-out Iraqi buildings that are repaired without
being cleaned up.8
DU weapons makers, including National Lead Industries (NL), have showered DU
on civilians, such as those near the former NL site in Colonie, NY. The federal
Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) assessed health risks
from NL pollution without acknowledging evidence presented to them from physicist
Leonard Dietz that DU particles can travel at least 26 miles.9 ATSDR used an
external radiation model, ignoring inhaled DU.10 One NL neighbor has discovered
ties to NL in 13 of the 16 members of Bush's cabinet.
The Precautionary Principle
Signed by the US in 1992 and subsequently ignored, the Precautionary Principle
proposes that when there is credible evidence of harm, even when the exact details
are not yet proven, government and industry have a duty to act11 The national
Veterans for Peace has passed a resolution to support global banning of all
radioactive weapons, and supports passage of the McDermott (D-WA) Bill (HR1483)
which requires cleanup and studies of DU.12 SAFE Legacy of New Paltz has gathered
organizations to support similar goals, and planned April meetings to discuss
DU with NY Senators Schumer and Clinton. For information on Syracuse
meeting with Rep. Jim Walsh.
Anybody, anywhere, any time can do a lot.
The "Depleted" Uranium Weapons Network of the Hudson Mohawk Region
(DUWNHMR) is ordinary people in extraordinary times, few in number but linked
with folks afar, working on the issues offered in the "Action" box
- which we invite any and all to share in.
TAKE ACTION
Label DU in Transport: <www.traprockpeace.org>,
Traprock Peace Center (413) 773-7427.
Ban DU Petition: DUWNHMR <sheree@nycap.rr.com>, Sheree (518) 286-0359, Carole: (518) 463-0095, <cferraro@hotmail.com>.
Support health study and possible lawsuit: NL Neighbors/Citizens' Environmental Coalition, <annerabe@msn.com>, (518) 732-4538 or Tom Ellis (518) 453-8874.
Lobby legislators; get more organizations to sign the Senator letter. SAFE Legacy, <michelka@yahoo.com>, Michele Riddell (845) 255-5482.
Organize a screening of Invisible War: Depleted Uranium and the Politics of Radiation, available from the Peace Council, (315) 472-5478.
Get "Ban Depleted Uranium Weapons" buttons: Red on black on white, 10/$6.50, includes shipping to continental US. Write to: DU Buttons, 137 Hidley Rd., Wynantskill, NY 12198-8065. Checks payable to Upper Hudson Peace Action.
Write elected officials: no whitewash! Write the mainstream media: tell the whole truth!
To join DUWNHMR's listserve: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nysnet-du/>.
To get on our low volume email list or infrequent mailing list: <sheree@nycap.rr.com>
or (518) 286-0359.
Sheree, a founder of DUWNHMR, lives happily in the Capital District, aiming
for sustainability.
SOURCES
1. <www.ngwrc.org>
2. <www.traprockpeace.org/du_mun_action_plan.pdf>
3. Science and Applications International Corp. report: "Kinetic Energy Penetrator Environment and Health Considerations," July 1990. US Army Armaments, Munitions and Chemical Command report: "Kinetic Energy Penetrator Long Term Strategy Study," (Appendix D), July 1990.
4. <www.dtic.mil/ndia/2002training/wakayama2.pdf>
5. <traprockpeace.org/tb_9-1300-278_1996.pdf>
6. <www.traprockpeace.org/rokke_du_care_denied.html>
7. <www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Infcircs/Others/inf20.shtml#note_c>
8. "WHO 'Suppressed' Scientific Study Into Depleted Uranium Cancer Fears in Iraq; Radiation experts warn in unpublished report that DU weapons used by Allies in Gulf war pose long-term health risk," by Rob Edwards. The Sunday Herald (Scotland), February 22, 2004.
9. <www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/dgvd.html>
10. <www.atsdr.cdc.gov/NEWS/colonieny/ColonieSitePublicCommentRelease.pdf>
11. <www.besafenet.com>
12. <www.vetsforpeace.org/BoardMinutes/Board_resolutions_080703.htm>
(Resolution 29)