Re: Need $2M for DU !? :-(

["Jerry Cohen" <jjcohen@prodigy.net>]

The UN wants to spend $2 million to evaluate DU effects ? Wow!  I could do
the study for only $ 1 million, and produce the same conclusions in much
less time than those big research organizations. Heck, I feel so
magnanimous, I'll give out these conclusions for free: (1) there is
widespread public concern toward potential effects of DU exposure, (2) The
technological issues affecting exposure parameters and biological
consequences are very complex, but  significant progress has been made
toward gaining an understanding of the problem, (3) further study is needed
to obtain a complete knowledge of the subject , and (4) send more money.  I
know I shouldn't give it away for free, but you know what they call those
people who charge for it.


-----Original Message-----
From: Muckerheide <muckerheide@mediaone.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Friday, February 02, 2001 6:54 PM
Subject: WHO: Need $2M for DU !?



>... And no medical case link!? :-)
>
>$10s Millions in research over last 30 years isn't enough??
>("Unacceptable"?)
>
>Regards, Jim
>muckerheide@mediaone.net
>==========================
>
>    UN health agency seeks $2 million to fund work on depleted uranium
>1 February ­ The World Health Organization (WHO) today appealed for close
to
>$2 million to examine the possible health effects of depleted uranium,
which
>was used during conflicts in the Persian Gulf and the Balkans.
>
>The agency plans to use the money to conduct field surveys and support data
>collection from local health facilities. The funds will also help WHO
>provide technical support and equipment to strengthen efforts by countries
>to keep records on cancers and other non-communicable diseases. In
addition,
>WHO will use the resources to deploy toxicologists, radiation and chemical
>experts -- together with equipment, supplies and easier access to
>international reference centres -- in support of national efforts to
>diagnose and treat non-communicable diseases.
>
>This initial appeal will eventually form part of an estimated $20 million
>which WHO will seek to cover its work on depleted uranium for the next four
>years. That money would allow the agency to undertake in-depth
>epidemiological and toxicological studies into the possible health and
>environmental effects of the substance.
>
>Experts generally think that there is low risk from exposure to depleted
>uranium -- which is used in certain ammunition and missiles -- but caution
>that there is not enough information to be certain.
>
>"Evidence on the incidence of cancers needs to be strengthened in
>communities within Iraq and the Balkans in order to draw any
epidemiological
>conclusions," said Dr. Xavier Leus, Director for WHO's Emergency and
>Humanitarian Action Department. "There is also very little information on
>other possible risk factors for civilians and the military that may be
>equally important," he pointed out.
>
>Dr. Leus said that evidence must be collected on the numbers of people
>exposed, amounts of depleted uranium involved and the concentration and
>distribution of environmental pollutants. He said the current state of
>uncertainty about the health effects of depleted uranium was
"unacceptable."
>
>WHO is requesting $1.98 million from humanitarian donors to cover
activities
>for the next six months.
>
>Back to top
>===============
>
>No firm link between depleted uranium and medical cases in Kosovo:
>
>WHO team 1 February ­ Following an extensive review, experts from the World
>Health Organization (WHO) have found no firm evidence linking individual
>medical cases in Kosovo to the use of depleted uranium munitions during the
>1999 Balkans conflict.
>
>According to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
>(UNMIK), which requested the review, the WHO team concluded that scientific
>and medical studies have not proven a link between exposure to depleted
>uranium and the onset of cancers, congenital abnormalities or serious toxic
>chemical effects on organs.
>
>At the same time, the WHO experts noted that caution had been expressed by
>scientists who would like to see a larger body of non-military, independent
>studies to confirm this viewpoint.
>
>Soldiers were most likely to have inhaled uranium metal and oxides in dusts
>and smoke, according to the WHO team, while the general population, except
>possibly in isolated incidents, would probably not have been exposed in
this
>manner.
>
>Pointing out that civilians could most likely come into contact with the
>substance by picking up objects on the ground, the WHO team concluded that
>routine measures to remove depleted uranium objects from the ground surface
>would be beneficial. But the experts did not recommend the creation of an
>immediate, separate cleanup programme at depleted uranium sites.
>
>According to UNMIK, the team emphasized that "depleted uranium issues are
>small in comparison" to the deaths and injuries caused by the presence of
>high levels of lead in people in Mitrovica as well as the "alarmingly high"
>rate of traffic deaths.
>
>The four-member WHO expert team reached its conclusions following meetings
>with concerned officials and visits to sites hit by depleted uranium-tipped
>shells. WHO's findings, which will be published next week, were presented
to
>UNMIK in draft form on Tuesday.
>
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