Gulf War

[Mike McKinnon <mmckinno.ndep-lv@ndep.carson-city.nv.us>]

Depleted Uranium (DU) was used extensively during the Gulf War.  The A-10
aircraft fires a "combat" mix of 30 mm high explosive incendiary (HEI) and
armor piercing incendiary (API) bullets.  The API ammo contains a DU
penetrator which easily pierces armored vehicles.  The Bradley Fighting
Vehicle also utilizes a 25 mm machine gun which is capable of firing DU
bullets.  U.S. tanks also fire a larger DU projectile against other armored
vehicles.  Some of the accounts of personnel exposures to DU during the Gulf
War involved "friendly fire" (oxymoron!!).  Some of the exposed personnel
were embedded with minute pieces of DU fragments which were too small (and
too numerous) to surgically remove.  So, in some instances, inhalation of DU
is not the concern.

Mike McKinnon,PE,CHP
mmckinno.ndep-lv@ndep.carson-city.nv.us
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