RE: Depleted Uranium Ordnance

["Potter, Charles" <capotte@sandia.gov>]

The chemical toxicity limit historically has been based on renal failure.
The ICRP-2 limit was based on this.  I don't know about nervous system
problems.  However, I'd check into the Iraqi use of chemical weapons as my
first suspect.

C. A. Gus Potter
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 844-2750
capotte@sandia.gov


-----Original Message-----
From: James G. Barnes [mailto:mail15077@pop.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 1999 3:22 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Depleted Uranium Ordnance


Good Afternoon,

I was talking to a USMC officer who had served in the Gulf War, and when I 
told him that I was a health physicist, he brought up the issue of DU 
munitions.

One point that he mentioned that I hadn't really considered is that these 
munitions are quite pyrotechnic (if that's the right word), and they 
basically incinerate just about anything they hit.  So the DU has gone 
through a catastrophic impact, followed immediately by a high temperature 
burn, has basically vaporized, then has plated, deposited over an area near 
the target.

It leads me to suspect that they definitely create a significant 
contamination event, and I suspect the chemical form of the DU might be 
much different than that found in a uranium mine.  So I'm not sure that 
comparison of Gulf War Vets to Uranium Miners is really an apples to apples 
situation.

Also, am I correct in believing that the chemotoxicity of Uranium is 
similar to other heavy metals, i.e. there is a potential effect on the n  
ervous system similar to that encountered in lead ingestion?


Jim Barnes, CHP
Radiation Safety Officer
Rocketdyne / Boeing

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