| Please,
analyse and think about the fact mentioned this great text written from
my Californian friend
DEPLETED
URANIUM:
WHAT
IT IS and HOW TO PROTECT
1.
What is DU and where its name come from?
Uranium
is an element which, like many others, is all over around us. However,
natural concentration is 0.5-5gr. per 1 ton of soil. If there is more than
0.1% of it, than it is possible to open a mine since uranium is basic nuclear
fuel. Natural Uranium has three shapes or isotopes: 234U, 235U and 238U,
that are chemically the same but differ by their nuclear characteristics.
Uranium is radioactive element and it emits nuclear rays that are result
of its decay. There are three basic types of radiation, Alpha, Beta and
Gamma that are not similar nor are of the same threat to living nature.
While U235 ( the one that is used as a fuel for commercial purposes ) emits
mostly Gamma rays, Uranium U238 emits almost only Alpha ones. Depleted
Uranium is uranium that consists the least quantities of U235 ( below 1%
) and has most of U238 ( some 99% ). DU is, in fact, nuclear waste, residuum
of uranium used in Nuclear Plants. There is about 1 million tons of it
all over the world. Alpha rays that are emitted from depleted uranium are
of the short range ( only several millimeters from the particle ) but they
are 20 times more destructing for the living tissues than other nuclear
rays. DU is very dangerous because it is highly radioactive and toxic!
2.
Why is DU important for the army?
Ammunition
with DU is used to destroy enemy's armed vehicles and shelters. It is made
in various calibers - from 7.6 mm up to over 120 mm. Major part of this
ammunition is sting or penetrator made entirely from alloy with most of
depleted uranium. Formal reason why DU is used is covered by explanation
that DU is the densest existing material (1.7 time more dense than lead
is), thus making rounds of it, one should get the most penetrable and efficient
weapon. This cynical explanation hides the fact that the countries, producers
of such ammunition, dispose huge quantities of their nuclear waste introducing
such a new type of nuclear war. Up to air strikes in Yugoslavia, most used
caliber was of 30 mm that is fired from guns mounted on planes, A-10, AV-8B
HARRIER or on tanks. Rounds of this caliber could penetrate steel of 6-7
cm wide. The ammunition of this size contains 292 gr of DU.
3.
Where was DU used?
In
the Gulf war, more than 940,000 pcs of DU rounds has been fired, mostly
caliber 30mm and 14,000 pcs of calibers 105mm and 120mm. Overall quantities
of DU dispersed over Iraq are estimated on 320 tons. Data from Bosnian
war are not completed yet. Defence US Department and NATO officials
admited use of DU ammunition in Yugoslavian war. Detailed and precise information
are not disclosed and are still in posesion of NATO. However, Russian estinmations
are that about 30 tonns were spread over this territory, mostry in Kosovo.
Apart from mentioned DU ammunition, there are indication that DU has been
used in cruise missiles and laser bombs, as well. NATO refused to
relese information on types, quantites, and places where DU ammunitionje
have been used. However, all KFOR soldiers in Kosovo are supplied with
radiological protection suits and are obliged to use all protection mesures
when in vicinity of places suspected (?!) to be hit by DU rounds or near
by objects that were destruct by bombs which »might have ad«
DU. Soldiers are also regularly examined on possible contamination. Why?
4.
What happens when DU round hits a target?
Apart
from purely mechanical, DU ammunition has extremely dangerous radiological
effect on human as well as on environment in all. To learn this, it is
necessary to know what happens with the sting (penetrator) once it hits
solid target, such as tank or concrete structure is. The penetrator disrupts
into:
·
Large shrapnel (tenths of grams)
·
Small parts (grams)
·
Large particles (over 10 micrometers) and
·
Aerosolized particles (uranium dust) produced by burning
First
three types of particles are solid depleted uranium itself and, being relatively
heavy, drop in the close area ( 10 meters ) around impact spot. These
particles, apart being radioactive are also very toxic and may intensively
react with fluids around them - primarily water – contaminating such surface
and underground waters as well as soil itself.
In
case of direct hit, the high temperatures, of about 1200 oC, are developed
on the impact spot. Since uranium burns on 700 oC, most of the penetrator
(50-70%) combusts into uranium dioxide and uranium trioxide. One hundred
grams of uranium burns out into about 1,000 grams of fine, black uranium
dust. Inhaling just 0.002 grams might be fatal to human health.
Because
of immediate cooling, fine uranium mist is formed. Particles do not exceed
2.5 micrometers in diameter and essentially have ceramic form, in other
words, they are not soluble and stay unchanged for good. Most of the particles
fall on the ground in the closest surrounding of the impact spot.
In
the distances that exceed 200 m, their number is smaller although they
may be detected even tenths of kilometers from the impact spot because,
in respect to their very small size, they can be easily moved by wind.
This only underlines high danger of contamination which can be spread in
very wide areas.
5.
Is toxic impact of DU on human health more dangerous than radiological
one?
Dangerous
effect of exposure to depleted uranium could be inducted by outside or
inside radiation. Outside radiation is significant when the whole sting
or its parts are close to humans. If such parts are in direct contact to
skin, because of the alpha and beta radiation, it could be burned. Such
cases are rare and could be avoided. Inside radiation is, however,
difficult to avoid and is much more dangerous. Basic threat appears when
inhaling or congesting DU particles. Once in taken, uranium endangers all
tissues it encounters, primarily lungs, liver, kidneys but also other organs,
such as spinal content tissue, etc. Inhaled uranium dust has soluble and
insoluble particles. Soluble particles are toxic and they poison the organism
while the insoluble parts are more dangerous because of their radioactivity.
Increased risk to cancer is about 5% per sievert what means that someone
that has been exposed to DU close to impact spot might have increased risk
to cancer from 20% upwards.
Tiny
uranium parts penetrate soil into underground water contaminating, such,
the whole food chain on a long-term basis. DU half decay time is 4.5 billion
years what practically means that, once spread, it stays in our environment
forever. The most endangered are soldiers and individuals that were close
to impact spots at very attack. It is not excluded that such persons might
have inhaled hundreds of grams of DU. It is quite possible that people
working on mending damages after bombing, inhale additional quantities
of DU particles. This because dust is disturbed by people, vehicles or
wind. Equivalent doses are, in such cases, less (tenths of micro sieverts
) but not less dangerous.
If
the target is missed, just a little percent of DU will become insoluble
dust. Solid uranium will be on the surface or under it where it will react
with water. Depending on geological situation, there is high risk on
contamination
of underground water. Detailed examinations must be exercised for
every particular case.
6.
How to indentify DU bullets and their residuums
Uranium
stings from 30mm DU ammunitions have shape of cigar, about 30 cm of lenght.
They could be slightly deformed from impact or broken in to several pieces.
Sometimes, at one end, parts of aluminnium holder might be found. Those
needles or stings are essentialy made of solid DU. Since just 25% of DU
rounds hit the target, many parts of this rounds could be found all over
the target area, aither on the soil surface or buried under the surface.
How
to behave ?
General
rules:
·
AVOID PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN BOMBED !
·
DO NOT COLLECT FRUITS OR PLANTS CLOSE TO PLACES THAT WERE BOMBED !
·
DO NOT LET YOUR LIVESTOCK INTO CONTAMINATED AREA !
·
DO NOT USE WATER, NEITHER SURFACE WATER NOR FROM THE WELLS !
·
DO FORBID CHILDREN TO PLAY NEAR THE PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED !
·
DO NOT GROW CROPS ON THE SOIL THAT MIGHT BE CONTAMINATED !
·
DO WASH YOURSELF MORE INTENSELY AND CHANGE CLOTHES MORE OFTEN WHILE BEING
CLOSE TO BOMBED PLACES !
What
to do if you find parts of DU ammunition:
·
DO NOT TOUCH OR COLLECT THE SHRAPNEL !
·
TEMPORARILY MARK THE PLACE WHERE RESIDUUMS ARE !
·
WASH YOURSELF THOROUGHLY AND CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES !
·
INFORM POLICE AND ARMY ABOUT YOUR FINDINGS!
·
INFORM AND WARN YOUR NEIGHBOURS !
·
DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO GET CLOSE TO THE PLACE NOR TO PLAY WITH THE
SHRAPNEL !
If
you think that you have been exposed to DU contamination, then:
GO
TO THE CLOSEST MEDICAL DOCTOR AND ASK FOR THE APPROPRIATE TESTS ! INFORM
AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE PLACE, TIME AND WAY YOU WERE EXPOSED TO THE CONTAMINATION
!
What
else is to be done?
INSIST
TO GET ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION ON CONTAMINATION IN YOUR AREA. IN RESPECT
TO THE CURRENT LOW ON PROTECTION AGAINS IONIZING RADIATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
FOR EXTREEM SITUATIONS, AUTHORITIES ARE OBLIGED TO DISCLOSE AND PUBLISH
ALL SUCH DATA !
INSIST
ON DETAILED AND ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS OF NUCLEAR POLLUTION IN YOUR AREA.
IN THIS MANNER YOU WILL BE SURE ON LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION AND WHAT IS A
REAL DANGER. INSIST THAT THE INFORMATION MUST BE PUBLIC AND ACCESSIBLE
TO ANYONE ON REQUEST !
There
are two types of measurements: examination of terrain in aim to fix the
location and measurements of uranium contents in soil, water, food, air,
plants and animals. There are several methods: gamma spectrometry, (most
common and rather simple one), alpha spectrometry, alpha radiometry, nutron
activation analysys (most acurate), mass spectroscopy and others.
ALPHA RADIATION CANNOT BE DETECTED WITH A GEIGER COUNTER!
WARNING!
Inhalation
of DU dust particles has been associated with long-term health effects,
including cancers, birth effects, neurological damage, damage kineys and
a damaged immune system. These effects may not become apparent untill a
few years after exposure.
For
further information contact:
Campaign
Against Depleted Uranium (CADU) – UK
E-mail:
[email protected]
The
National Gulf War Resource Center – USA
E-mail:
[email protected]
Zeleni
Sto – Yugoslavia
http://come.to/the.green.table
E-mail:
[email protected]
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