[ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions

[Fred Dawson]

Gunpowder, cordite, vehicles all produce toxic gas  incidental to their 
primary purpose are we about to ban guns and vehicles.

Fred Dawson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Salsman" <james at bovik.org>
To: <radsafe at radlab.nl>; <bobcherry at cox.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 12:37 PM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions


> Dear Bob Cherry:
>
> After reviewing the recent archives of the RADSAFE list, a number
> of questions arise:
>
> 1.  Do you deny that pyrophoric uranium munitions produce poison gas?
> If so, on what grounds?
>
> 2.  Do you deny that the use of poison gas is strictly forbidden by
> the laws of war?  If so, on what grounds?
>
> 3.  Why has the U.S. Army never attempted to detect nitrogen compounds
> in the combustion products of pyrophoric uranium munitions?
>
> 4.  Why has the U.S. Army never detected the UO3 species of uranium
> oxide in the combustion products of pyrophoric uranium munitions?
>
> I believe the answer to that last question has to do with the fact
> that the less dense oxides, like the nitrogen compounds, waft up and
> disperse over a much wider area than the denser oxides.  And, sadly,
> the U.S. Army has only tested open-air, unenclosed burns of their
> pyrophoric uranium munitions.
>
> Now, having said all that, I feel that it is important that you know
> I have not yet formed an opinion on the use of uranium in armor, but
> I fear it would be easy for a sophisticated adversary to ignite.
>
> Sincerely,
> James Salsman
>
>
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