Agreed. I think the only differences between each side of this is one side errs on the side of caution because of the probable health risks of DU, and the other side errs on the side of using the effective weapons. The reason I choose to err on cautions side is that if DU is as dangerous as it seems to be, it will have negative detrimental effects on health for generations not only for Iraqis, but for the soldiers over their and their children. If there is proof that it is safe, then I say go ahead with care. But the risk is far to great in this situation with the available information.

This whole situation seems like the DoD just wants to get rid of uranium waste in another country. They rushed in without making sure it was safe, and now we are beginning to see the effects in Gulf War syndrome and the birth defects in Iraq.

The reason I started this post is because I have a small amount of DU in my system from when I went to northern Iraq a few years back myself. *ATTENTION* If you have been in an area that DU munitions were used or manufactured, you should go to your doctor and take the uranium urine test. If you test positive, there are ways to flush your system in order to avoid the health risks stated above. Treatments with tiron, gallic acid, DTPA, p-aminosalicylic acid, sodium citrate, EDTA, 5-aminosalicylic acid and EGTA were shown to help to move the uranium out in your feces. Tiron would be my first choice, as it is the most effective. I have also heard of taking magnetic clay baths to pull the mtals out of the body, although I have no proven medical data to back that up.

For the sake of time, I'm going to summerize the argument for stopping the use of and studying further DU munitions.
Point 1: over 350 tons of DU munitions were used in Iraq during the American disarming of Iraq after the attack on Kuwait, a.k.a. Desert Storm.
Point 2: When DU munitions are used, the DU bullets and bombs to not splat like lead munitions. They splinter and puncture, turning to dust. This dust can easily be inhaled by the soldiers firing the munitions just as the soldiers/insurgents/civilians being attacked can also inhale the DU dust.
Point 3: While DU is basically harmless externally (the skin can protect you from the ill effects of DU), when taken in through inhalation - breathing DU air, ingestion - eating food with DU dust on it, or injection - DU shrapnel, it can be spread through the blood stream to vital parts of the body such as the bones, brain, liver, lymph system, spleen, testes/ovum and other organs.
Point 4: DU, like naturally occouring uranium, has detrimental effects on DNA and chromosomal growth such as destruction or mutation. DU exposure can result in increased chromosomal aberrations. It can cause DNA to form incorrectly, possibily leading to cancer. DU has been linked to damage in the liver, kidney, and lymph system.
Bottom line: We should stop using DU munitions for however long it takes to prove CONCLUSIVLY that it is safe and non toxic to organisms. We understand that DU munitions primary use is for breaking through armor, and that it is important in making war. However it's radiological effects could last for generations.

I can't figure out how you got me saying DU doesn't come from an ecosystem in what I actually did say.

I'll try one last time:

Take your average amateur home fresh water fish tank. Add a few pounds of salt. Watch your fish die. Salt is natural, it comes from the global ecosystem (as does everything and anything). But in some ecosystems, it kills. DU is the same in that respect. So, as I said, your desire to point out that DU comes from somewhere is entirely irrelevant.

Manx,

Great analogy and I'll use it myself.

Given the same fish tank (except I'll ad a filter that gradually removes the salt, because ecosystems aren't closed, like a fishtank is), you can also add a little bit of salt and the fish will be fine.

OK, what would function as a "filter" in your fishtank analogy? Is that to account for natural dispersion of depleted uranium? To be more accurate you'd have to add your filtered salt into another fishtank, filter that one, and so on. I wonder what would happen if you added a little bit of DU to your fishtank...

No, you would not.

Eventually, you would reach an equalibrium where everything is still fine, which is what happens in nature and the point I have been trying to make repeatedly.

I can appreciate what you're saying, Lebell, but how long do you think it'll take to reach 'equilibrium'? And how long do you think it'll take the soldiers and civilians DU contaminated bodies to reach equilibrium? To me it sounds like you are hoping for a natural, non human answer to this problem. Unfortunatetly, that's not how it works. This fish tank (good anaolgy for pointing out the first ecosystem question, but it has problems matching up after that) is a large area of land. This area of land has been coated with DU every time the U.S. and it's allies decide to beat on the Iraqi people. The 350 or more tons I quoted was only for Desert Storm. There is supposed to be over 890-1300 tons total DU munitions used on Iraqi soil between 1992 and mid 2004. Also, the DU munitions are not spread evenly over the whole of Iraq. A great deal of the munitions were used in towns and cities. In other words, a lot the DU dust is localized in medium to heavily populated civilian areas.

I am fully aware of all of that.

Like all analogies, this one shouldn't be taken too far.

"Eventually" in this case is 4.5 million years. Do you see why I find this answer unsatisfactory?

Would it take anything short of testing positive yourself for DU after visiting Iraq to make you believe that this is probably dangerous? I wish I could have answered yes to this, but I never got that chance.

What leads you to believe that?

As to testing positive, have you had any health effects that can be attributed to DU?

I was tested the day after I got back (I needed a lot of sleep). As soon as the results came back - about 2 days later - I was getting treatment. The uranium was basically gone from my body after a week or so. Acording to my doctor I am now in no danger. I consider myself to be VERY lucky. I have no idea what would have happened to me had I not been treated, but my doctor assures me it would have eventually been at great health risk.

I'm glad that you are ok, but I must say that your personal experience doesn't back up the claim of the post.

Let me clear this up: I do not intend to back up my claim in this thread with my personal experience. All that what happened to me does is spark my interest. The only information I took away from that experience is DU munitions can be spread and inhaled, there are DU munition dust particles in the air in Iraq, and the best course of action is to consult your doctor for all serious medical problems.
My stand in this thread (we should test further because of the possible dangers of DU) is seperate.

This thread needs a bit of updating. Also, I apologize for posting utter crap before. No excuses.

The effects of depleted uranium aerosol have been confirmed by respected studies (despite still being denied by the DoD) since my last post, and the effects are nearing a point where they are undeniable.

Without a doubt DU is absolutely horrible and is at bare minimum causing similar effects as what happens with lead or other heavy metal poisoning.

This stuff is being exposed to soldiers and Iraqis in the same way that would get me as a contractor in deep shit for doing with lead.