depleted uranium: what is the status quo?



R

Ronwer

Guest
Hi,

I have studied a number of reports published on the internet
on the possible adverse health effects of depleted uranium,
but keep bumping my head on a brick wall.

There are enough "parties" stating that they have proof that
a number of different illnesses occurring among US and other
soldiers is due to exposure to depleted uranium.

Different opinions exist whether this is due to radiological
and/or chemical toxicity.

Others maintain there are no adverse effects at all, and
call the alleged connection between DU and the so-called
"Gulf Syndrome" a scam.

I have the feeling that reliance on either party is
arbitrare and unjustifiable.

My guess is that as usual the long-term effects are hardly
known, and any such claims are unproven, even if supported
by means of either statistics or medical reports.

The sheer complixity of human chemistry makes it in my
opinion impossible to ever be sure. Sudden reactions may
result from the interaction of different agents, even if the
absorbed quantities seem below a safe level.

Anyway, the problem is that the period of time in which the
medical research was done, is far too short to say anything
sensible about the effects in 30 years or so.

My understanding of low-dose radioactive exposure, tells me
that in a living being even a single ray might be your last.
Of course, even though not necessarily the first one needs
to be fatal. Not even the next so-and-so-many MilliSievert.
But one lousy hit on a chromosome that doesn't repair
correctly, and you might be in trouble.

So, I am convinced that radiotoxicity is a factor.

But I am more interested in the chemotoxicty. Uranium is an
extremely heavy metal, and one but expects all kind of
strange interactions with the human body.

Known for sure is that uranium can lead to kidney damage.
Though the assumed necessary dose is supposed to be much
higher than the levels the US and other soldiers have been
exposed to. Or what the Iraqies, Serbs, Bosniers etc. have
been exposed to.

Reports of leucemia and other illnesses might be related to
DU, but at the same time others deny this vehemently.

On the internet there have been pictures of babies
supposedly born in Iraq after the first Gulf War that showed
a wide range of exotic mutations.

An other aspect that is in my opinion neglected, is the
toxicity of the other explosives used in wars. These are
highly unstable compounds, and should in general be expected
to be poisenous. Also all kind of exotic compounds that
result from the high temperatures and pressures during the
explosion would be expected to be poisenous.

The interaction of all previously mentioned factors, should
lead to all kind of strange effects in the human body.

Is there anyone who has something sensible to add to this?
If any of you has sufficient medical expertice I would be
grateful for a response with hard facts, if possible with
links to relevant websites.

Thanks!

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Ronald Werner Norway