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Originally Posted by Lebell
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.
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Lebell,
I respect your post and the way you focussed on the issue and gave your links as foundations for your belief.
I just have a few questions: is it not better to use something that isn't surrounded by controversy, such as a Tungsten? OR to at least have details clean up the DU in the areas after we have secured them? And again I have to ask, if we are facing such an inferior army over there what is the need to use these weapons anyway?
Can we afford to wait and see if there is any truth to the DU contamination, and how long do we continue to use it before we decide there are serious problems?
I'm sorry but our troops deserve to not be guinea pigs, and DU right now sounds exactly like the historical readings of Agent Orange. I'm not willing to take those chances, and in all honesty our government shouldn't either. To me the fact that there are so many questions and possibilities of harmful after affects to our troops and civilians, that I would cease all use or I would make sure we had in place a way to clean the DU up.