German Bundeswehr manual challenges DU denials

AntiDu | 15.08.2009 10:12

Raising DU awareness

German Bundeswehr manual challenges US and UK denials over depleted uranium in Afghanistan
A classified German Army manual has thrown doubt over US and UK assurances that no depleted uranium munitions have been used in Afghanistan.
21 July 2009 -

http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/283.html

AntiDu

Comments

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And the epidemiological evidence -

15.08.2009 15:16

- for the harm that DU does? Well, it's non existent.

herschel

to Hershal

15.08.2009 18:34

I think the problems stem from the microparticulants ejected post detonation that if inhaled or injested are a source of alpha radiation.

DU is an effective Antiarmour munition and anti building but in Afghan there is scant reason to deploy. The surviving Russian heaps are few and far between and of no real threat, they were built like most communist bloc things, badly and for use on mass (crews were expendable, western crews were far better catered for).

Anon

Not an answer

15.08.2009 19:14

- the epidemiological evidence is nil.

herschel

oh ok

16.08.2009 11:25

It's just that....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11453287

the text seems to show a marked spread of material in detrement to patient forcing removal of tissue

standing by to be disagreed with

anon

speculative research is no usbstitute for epidemiological studies

16.08.2009 13:24

"The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) is investigating health effects of embedded fragments of DU to determine whether current surgical fragment removal policies remain appropriate for this metal. These studies employ rodents implanted with DU pellets as well as cultured human cells exposed to DU compounds. Results indicate uranium from implanted DU fragments distributed to tissues far-removed from implantation sites, including bone, kidney, muscle, and liver. Despite levels of uranium in the kidney that were nephrotoxic after acute exposure, no histological or functional kidney toxicity was observed."

And they're talking about the very very few who actually have DU shrapnel wounds. Mind you, what would be the effect of lead or tungsten shrapnel?

herschel

Dust

17.08.2009 14:18

DU's is a carcinogen; it is breathing the dust in that is dangerous; not shrapnel wounds. The dust is created when some of the metal is vaporised in a collision. DU is used both in munitions and armour due to it's high hardness.

Where were the tests on mice carried out?

Link is to a song mentioning DU and predicting a response by the effected:

Mickey Mouse
Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp0U_5aqyTM

Dust to dust

17.08.2009 16:20

Yes, a very small fraction of the DU shells end up as dust, which spreads over a relatively small area.

So, if it is a health hazard, point me to the studies showing that people are dying ...

herschel