GULF WAR DEPLETED URANIUM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE REPORT UPDATED
Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense
Environmental Exposure Report
Depleted Uranium in the Gulf (II)
http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/
No. 753-00
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19,
2000
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
GULF WAR DEPLETED URANIUM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE REPORT UPDATED
The
Department of Defense released today an update to its environmental exposure
report, "Depleted Uranium in the Gulf (II)," addressing information gained from
ongoing investigations and research into the use of depleted uranium as it
relates to U.S. service members' exposure to the material during the Gulf War.
Based on the scientific evidence developed so far, the report concludes it is
unlikely that depleted uranium exposure is a cause of the undiagnosed illnesses
some Gulf War veterans are experiencing. This conclusion is supported by a
recent Institute of Medicine review of the scientific literature relating to
depleted uranium. The first interim report about depleted uranium was published
in August 1998. This updated report reviews research conducted by both
governmental and non-governmental agencies. It also includes the latest data
available from a study the Department of Veterans Affairs is conducting on
service members who had the greatest exposure to depleted uranium during the
Gulf War. Since 1993, the VA has monitored 33 veterans who were seriously
injured in friendly-fire incidents involving depleted uranium. About half of
this group still have depleted uranium metal fragments in their bodies.
Additionally, this update refines previous Gulf War exposure assessments. The
first battlefield use of depleted uranium in tank armor and armor-piercing
ammunition took place during the Gulf War. Military experts say that depleted
uranium weapons and armor contributed to the overwhelming success of coalition
forces during the Gulf War. But after the conflict, some veterans have expressed
concern about the chemical toxicity and radiological properties of depleted
uranium and possible health risks from its use. Environmental exposure reports
contain what is known today about certain events of the Gulf War. They are part
of DoD's efforts to inform the public about its investigations into the nature
and possible causes of illnesses experienced by some Gulf War veterans.
This report is posted on DoD's website GulfLINK at