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Originally Posted by willravel
The Geneva Protocol of 1925 (ratified by the U.S. in 1975) bans the production and use of chemical weapons. Chemical weapons use the toxic properties of chemical substances in order to hurt or kill. DU is a toxic substance that is being used in war. So, yes, DU munitions are illegal.
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By this logic, lead core bullets are also illegal, since a toxic quanty of lead is being introduced into the body.
As it is, I see a lot of misinformation on Uranium, heavy metals and radiation.
If memory serves, uranium is primarily an alpha emitter, (that is, a helium nucleus) and therefore isn't primarily a radiation hazard (this type of radiation can be stopped by a sheet of paper and won't even penetrate the skin, unlike beta and gamma radiation). Alpha emitter's become dangerous only when they are absorbed into the body where the radiation can damage tissue and DNA (such as when plutonium displaces calcium in bone). So the charge of high radiation levels in "shell holes" is irrelevant. But most of uranium's toxic effects come from the fact that it is a heavy metal.
There are several studies out regarding the toxic effects of DU, including a notable one from the World Health Organization that concludes DU is not a long term health hazard. Still, there are studies that claim it is.
Given the conflicting claims, we should continue to monitor for long term health effects, but also given the major studies that conclude there are no long-term effects from DU munitions, we should continue to use them when the alternative might mean longer battles and presumably, higher casualities.