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Re: DU legislation?
All
What is it that we don't know about DU?
We have data on persons that have been exposed to uranium (U-Nat and Enr-U)
in mines and mills for decades. The only thing I don't know about the hazard
of uranium is weather the concentration in drinking water will cause kidney
damage. The experts say that there are changes in the excreted
"biomolecules", but they can't say that this will be detrimental to kidney
function.
Can DU have a toxic effect that is not in U-Nat or Enr-U?
_______________________
John R Johnson, PhD
idias@interchange.ubc.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "William V Lipton" <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM>
To: "Fred Dawson" <fd003f0606@blueyonder.co.uk>
Cc: "Philip Egidi" <phil.egidi@state.co.us>; <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2003 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: DU legislation?
> Regardless of what so many Radsafers seem to think, sarcasm does not
reassure
> the public. Perception is reality. We have to address the radiological
and
> toxic risks of DU. There's still a lot we don't know. Look on this as an
> opportunity to learn more about a potential hazard.
>
> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
> It's not about dose, it's about trust.
> Curies forever.
>
> Bill Lipton
> liptonw@dteenergy.com
>
> Fred Dawson wrote:
>
> > How about banning that very toxic material used in ammunition called
lead
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Philip Egidi" <phil.egidi@state.co.us>
> > To: <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
> > Sent: Monday, April 07, 2003 3:18 PM
> > Subject: DU legislation?
> >
> > > 4/7/03
> > > RADSTERS,
> > > I saw this today on another Listserv and thought I would pass it
along.
> > > Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.
> > >
> > > Phil Egidi
> > > CDPHE
> > > phil.egidi@state.co.us
> > > *********
> > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> > > March 27, 2003
> > > Contact: Eric Lutz
> > >
> > > McDERMOTT INTRODUCES DEPLETED URANIUM BILL
> > > HR 1483
> > >
> > > Washington, DC-Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) today introduced
> > > legislation requiring studies on the health and environmental impact
> > > of
> > > depleted uranium (DU) munitions, as well as cleanup and mitigation of
> > > depleted uranium contamination at sites within the United States where
> > > DU has been used or produced.
> > >
> > > McDermott, a medical doctor, has been concerned about this issue since
> > > veterans of the Gulf War started experiencing unexplained illnesses.
> > > His concern deepened, he said, after visiting Iraq, where Iraqi
> > > pediatricians told him that the incidence of severely deformed infants
> > > and childhood cancers has skyrocketed.
> > >
> > > "Depleted uranium is toxic and carcinogenic and it may well be
> > > associated with elevated rates of birth defects in babies born to
> > > those
> > > exposed to it," said McDermott. "We had troops coming home sick
> > > after
> > > the Gulf War, and depleted uranium may be one of the factors
> > > responsible
> > > for that."
> > >
> > > Because of its density, the military uses depleted uranium as a
> > > protective shield around tanks. It is also part of munitions like
> > > armor-piercing bullets. Because it tends to spontaneously ignite upon
> > > impact, it is used to cause explosions.
> > >
> > > But depleted uranium, a by-product of the uranium enrichment process,
> > > is
> > > also linked to grave health concerns because of its chemical toxicity
> > > and low-level radioactivity. When depleted uranium explodes, soldiers
> > > are exposed to DU in the form of alpha-emitting airborne particles
> > > that
> > > are inhaled and shrapnel that gets embedded in the body. They are
> > > also
> > > exposed through unprotected contact with equipment.
> > >
> > > About 300 metric tons of depleted uranium was used in the Iraq during
> > > the Gulf War, and many citizens of Iraq as well as veterans of the
> > > Gulf
> > > War have experienced terrible health problems-many say as a
> > > consequence
> > > of depleted uranium. Increased rates of cancers, leukemia, and birth
> > > malformations are among the health problems that may be linked to DU.
> > >
> > > The Pentagon has sent mixed signals about the effects of depleted
> > > uranium, at times claiming DU is not a health hazard, and at other
> > > times
> > > acknowledging the need for sophisticated protective gear and safety
> > > training regarding exposure to DU.
> > >
> > > "The need for these studies is imperative and immediate," said
> > > McDermott. "We cannot knowingly put the men and women of our armed
> > > forces in harm's way."
> > >
> > > The Depleted Uranium Munitions Study Act of 2003 has several original
> > > co-sponsors, including Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Edward Markey
> > > (D-Mass.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio),
> > > Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).
> > >
> > >
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> >
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>
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