Re: Breaking News: 'Iraqi Chernobyl'

[Ivor Surveyor <isurveyor@vianet.net.au>]

The attention of the list has been drawn to "THE OTTAWA

CITIZEN" of May 29th.  A similar article is to be found in

todays Australia.


My understanding is that the greatest risk from uranium toxicity is 

from renal injury due to the toxicity of heavy metal  on renal

tubular cells.  


I was therefore very surprised to read in the article;



> Dr. Hasham
>
> Abd Al-Mlek, Iraq's national nuclear inspector, who has worked at
>
> Tuwaitha since 1988 and is now working with the U.S. authorities,
>
> said:
>
> 'There are around 2,000 people in the villages, and most of them 
>
> are
>
> affected. More than a thousand people will get cancer. They need
>
> medication
>
> and the area needs de-contamination. Really, this is the Iraqi
>
> Chernobyl.' 


> The yellow cake is harmless outside
>
> the body, but if ingested, leukemia can
>
> start developing within about 120 days. 


Can these claims have any possible scientific basis ? or is just another

example journalistic hyperbole.







Ivor Surveyor  [isurveyor@vianet.net.au]