[ RadSafe ] is uranium genotoxic? (was Re: CB interview on enriched U)

[Bob Cherry]

Jimmy,

<< Dr. Raabe has stated quite clearly that uranium is not a genotoxin, and
Lt. Cherry has testified to that effect.>>

I am quite certain that this is the first time in my life I have typed the
word "genotoxin," much less ever testifying about it. Please provide a
reference to your bald-faced lie, oops, I mean "assertion."

Bob C

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of James Salsman
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 8:32 AM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Cc: ecraft at edf.org
Subject: [ RadSafe ] is uranium genotoxic? (was Re: CB interview on enriched
U)

Mike Brennan wrote:

>... The idea that a lab identified "enriched uranium", supposedly  from 
>projectiles, is absurd.  Either the people in the lab didn't  know what 
>they were doing (possible) or their results were  misrepresented (also 
>possible).

It may be absurd, but it's not the first time this has happened.
Durakovic reported an isotope ratio indicating enriched uranium in soil
samples in Afghanistan, and the UN admitted some reprocessed fuel had made
it into some DU munitions in Kosovo:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/unep81.doc.htm

Again, do you believe that uranium is a genotoxin or not?  The literature is
abundantly clear on the issue, and I wonder why people on this list get so
upset about the question.  Dr. Raabe has stated quite clearly that uranium
is not a genotoxin, and Lt. Cherry has testified to that effect.  It seems
like RadSafers ought to be able to decide whether they believe them or the
peer reviewed literature reviews, or is that question just too hard for a
yes or no answer?

Steven Dapra wrote:

> Salsman gives a link to a paper by Craft, et al. in the Journal of  
>Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 7:297317, 2004.
> In its section on "DNA Damage/Carcinogenicity," (p. 308) ...
> Apparently Craft et al. are right alongside Dr. Raabe and  Col. Cherry 
>in not believing that DU is a genotoxin.

I am sending a cc of this message to Dr. Craft. I am not sure she will
appreciate how Mr. Dapra has characterized pp. 308-9 of
http://www.dmzhawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/health-overview-04.pdf

> I suspect Salsman's request that as a Navy veteran you can help him 
> obtain statistics is a clever and  subtle way of insulting you

No, I honestly haven't been able to get anything out of the Birth and Infant
Health Registry, even though they were publishing annual reports right up
until 2001 when the birth defect rate for combat versus noncombat 1991 Gulf
War veterans started to skyrocket.  I just thought Mike might be interested
enough to help, too.  Does anyone know a good FOIA attorney?

Now that it's 20 years out, will someone publish the cancer rate statistics
for those two groups?

Sincerely,
James Salsman
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