Article

2003-04-22 Iraq

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Posted by glen 2003-04-22 01:57 am|| || Front Page|| [11128 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Oh hell, Murat again?

Posted by someone 2003-04-22 02:18:41|| 2003-04-22 02:18:41|| Front Page Top

#2 The myth of DU health hazards is continually trumpeted by ass-hats everywhere.

They inevitably FAIL to consider the occupational exposure and epidemiological data that has been acquired over 70+ years of observation of uranium minors... who are occupationally exposed to uranium oxide dust (such as would be produced by the combustion of a DU penetrator during an armor strike.) Bottom line is that DU isn't any more "toxic" than an equivilent amount of lead.

Here is a link to a detailed study by the Royal Society on DU exposures:

http://www.nrpb.org/publications/misc_publications/royal_society_report_on_du.htm#part1

Most likely (and to my mind probable) association with cancer in Basra (or anywhere in Iraq) is to look at how hazardous chemical wastes are disposed. If they are dumping them on the ground... the chemicals are probably migrating to their drinking water. Drinking diluted hazardous waste is a pretty sure way to end up with cancer; so it's no surprise that countries with poor "industrial hygienne" such as Iraq have high cancer rates.

It's going to take a heck of a long time to clean up their wells and reduce cancer rates. Eastern Europe learned the same cancer lesson: improper disposal of hazardous waste = sick kids and cancer.

Posted by Leigh 2003-04-22 02:48:28|| 2003-04-22 02:48:28|| Front Page Top

#3 DU as a chem hazard: maybe.

DU as a radiation hazard: NO WAY

I have just finished trouncing a DU conspiracy theorist on the FSO website, it is total BULLSH*T.

DU remains a very weak ALPHA particle emitter (alpha radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper and does not penetrate the skin, hence is not a big cancer-causer) for 500,000 years.

It is not a chernobyl and will not be causing radiation problems.

In fact, DU is used as SHIELDING as it ABSORBS more harmful gamma radiation in medical X-Ray machine shielding and tank armour.

DU does not cause cancer with radiation.

And I am the most anti-nuclear person on the planet, I actually went to prison protesting a nuclear mine in Australia once. So I am in no way pro-nuke.

Posted by anon1 2003-04-22 02:58:57|| 2003-04-22 02:58:57|| Front Page Top

#4 Problem with depleted uranium is the toxic dust pulverized at the impact, not the dreaded "radiations hazard" (IIRC). Anyway, I thought US DoD started remplacing its DU ammos by stungtene back in 1997, due to environnementalists pressure (plus, less concern for afterward cleaning-up). I mean, there was enough opportunities, ie Kosovo, to get rid of the old ordnances, no?

Posted by Anonymous 2003-04-22 05:53:32|| 2003-04-22 05:53:32|| Front Page Top

#5 Has anyone ever noticed that these ass-clowns never have any specific examples of people effected by D.U.? "The Iraqis" "How else to you explain the cancer rate?" is all we get. What I want to know is, How the hell was it possible to reliably CONFIRM the Iraqi cancer rate? And, they never mention the people walking around with D.U. stuck IN them that don't seem to drop off the earth every week. If I'm not mistaken, the box of lead fishing weights I have in my tackle box is more radioactive than D.U.
That's it. I'm calling Doctor Assphister, and see what he say's about changing my lead weights to D.U. weights.

Posted by Mike N. 2003-04-22 07:47:56|| 2003-04-22 07:47:56|| Front Page Top

#6 "DU munitions are classified by a United Nations resolution as illegal weapons of mass destruction."

I dare say that "resolution", if it ever existed, never passed.

Posted by Tom 2003-04-22 09:41:23|| 2003-04-22 09:41:23|| Front Page Top

#7 Here's the scoop on a study of Gulf War I vets who were subjected to "friendly fire" with DU weapons:

http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/du_library/health.shtml

Posted by Tom 2003-04-22 10:04:20|| 2003-04-22 10:04:20|| Front Page Top

#8 Always check FAS (Federation of American Scientists) when your bullshit detector starts quivering. DU is right up their alley:

Posted by Mark IV 2003-04-22 12:59:23|| 2003-04-22 12:59:23|| Front Page Top

#9 ...and the link would be here.

Posted by Mark IV 2003-04-22 13:01:13|| 2003-04-22 13:01:13|| Front Page Top

#10 Took a look at The Idaho Observer link - hooboy! Nice "newspaper". Tinfoil hats optional - on the "here's why we publish" page they even have a graphic of the UN flag with black helicopters flying across....can't make that shit up

Posted by Frank G 2003-04-22 16:11:33|| 2003-04-22 16:11:33|| Front Page Top

#11 There is a reason this stuff is called "depleted" uranium? Maybe all the fissionable material is gone? Sitting in my basement watching the war on CNN might get me more exposure to Radon than being embedded. DU dust ingested would present a toxic hazard, similar to other heavy metals such as lead, mercury. And all those supposed "hot spots" in Iraq may be worth investigating for what Saddam was playing with.

Posted by john 2003-04-22 20:24:42|| 2003-04-22 20:24:42|| Front Page Top

07:54 raptor
07:50 raptor
07:31 raptor
07:00 raptor
00:34 Anonymous
00:29 Anonon
00:15 Anonymous
21:17 Frank G
21:14 Tom
20:31 RW
20:25 Alaska Paul
20:24 john
20:13 Fred
19:59 Alaska Paul
19:55 Fred
19:42 Chuck
19:30 Frank G
19:21 anon1
19:11 anon1
18:42 someone
17:54 Chris Smith
17:44 Fred
17:41 DougS
17:19 Cyber Sarge