DEPLETED URANIUM HAZARD

"Bij hevige branden gaan deeltjes vaak honderden meters de lucht in en komen
soms honderden kilometers verder weer neer (denk aan Tsjernobyl en de 
daarop volgende fallout in heel Europa)"

"Like with the nuclear disaster at Tjernobyl, with the bombardments in Kosovo, 
due to the heath of the caused fires, depleted uranium particles can rise high up into the
 atmosphere and spread over large parts of Europe"


Ingested DU particles can cause up to 1,000 times the damage
of an X-ray, said Mary Olson, a nuclear waste specialist and biologist
at the Nuclear Information and Resource Service in Washington D.C.



----------

KOSOVO PROPOSALS:The SI-MS or neutron activation are more accurate.
Surface Ionization Mass Spectrometry is done by the
Atlantic University Lab in Canada, for address see above.

The method of neutron activation is used by
dr. Hari Sharma of Waterloo University of Canada.
"Dr. HD Sharma"
He recently found DU in the urine of 16 British Gulf veterans.

Conclusion:
With this  e-mail we will stress for the urgent need for
INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH ON DEPLETED URANIUM IN
KOSOVO in INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES without any government
or army involvement.
The kind of measuring instrument is very important.
One measurement on average costs about US $ 200,- so no government support
is needed.

Hans de Jonge
e-mail: hansdejonge@xs4all.nl
Stichting Visie Amsterdam
tel/fax 00 31 20 6189124

---------

Following BBC's analysis of Depleted Uranium (DU) hazards in
Costing the Earth (Monday 7 June) UK MP Tony Benn included
a brief reference to DU in his questions to the Prime Minister yesterday.
He was questioning the total conduct of the war but made a special
point to include a reference to DU.

Tony Benn was in the Labour Government years ago (1974?) when the
UK  decided to use DU weapons.  He was the only minister to oppose
them.   He still retains a deep concern about their use.

The following extract is taken from UK Parliament report Hansard, on
the following URL..  You can search for other references to Depleted
Uranium on this site.  I found 15 references from other concerned MPs
including  Harry Barnes, Neil Gerrard, Tan Dalyell, Jeremy Corbyn
and Ken Livingstone.


PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTIONS - 8 June 1999
=========================

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/cm990608/debtext/90608-08.htm#90608-08_spnew0


Mr. Tony Benn (Chesterfield): Will the Prime Minister tell the House when
the draft UN resolution will be published? To whom will the international
force be accountable--the Security Council or NATO? Have the Russians and
the Chinese agreed to support the resolution before the bombing stops? Is
the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia endorsed in the resolution? Has the

Kosovo Liberation Army agreed to disarm and to be decommissioned? Does the
UN resolution require the removal of Milosevic?

Is it not clear that had the matter been taken to the UN with the support
of Russia and China weeks or months ago, this solution could have been made
possible without the destruction of Yugoslavia, the use of depleted uranium
weapons, the pollution of the Danube and indeed the destabilisation of the
area? History may not view a NATO that tore up the UN charter in quite the
way that my right hon. Friend and his colleagues appear to do.

The Prime Minister: The terms of the Security Council resolution are
circulating now. I do not know what proper arrangements I should make for
its being made available, but whatever I am able to do I will do.
Obviously, we want the resolution to be passed as soon as possible. The Russian
position on the resolution and the bombing has always been clear, but so
has our position: that we must be sure of the verifiable withdrawal of
Milosevic's troops before the bombing can be stopped.

--------

FOLLOW UP:

IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS FOR UK & ALL OTHER GOVERNMENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-
I hope that other UK MPs will raise the 6 primary questions about DU use
and precautions in the Balkans:

1. DU weapons identification:
-----------------------------------------
The US Government must be asked to declare all munitions that have been
used DU in Kosova and Serbia, including armour-piercing shells, missiles, bombs,
submunitions and cruise missiles.

2. DU combat zone locations:
-------------------------------------------
The US government must provide a map of ALL locations in Kosova and Serbia
where these DU munitions have been used.  This should also include targets
in Serbia. A Pentagon message 3 works ago confirmed they will expect this
request.

3. DU Environmental monitoring:
---------------------------------------------
An independent environmental monitoring programme must be in the first
phase of ground troop intervention. This must be properly equipped to monitor DU
oxide dust contamination and results must be published for each area.
Detection of Uranium 238 (DU) oxide requires special monitoring equipment
calibrated to detect Alpha radiation. Standard military radiation meters
(designed for nuclear weapons) are not sensitive enough.

4. Health & Safety DU briefing and protection for troops:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All UK troops must be fully briefed on the hazards of DU contaminated areas
and equipment. They should be provided with full protection and
decontamination facilities. The US government chose not to use the
procedures and training videos developed for them by Doug Rokke's team
after the Gulf War because they highlight dangers that the US Dept of Defense are
still trying to play down.

5. Alert to other Nato governments:
--------------------------------------------------
The UK government should alert all other Nato governments to this issue so
that similar precautions can be taken for other Nato ground forces. Ideally
US troops (with suitable precautions) should be used to clean up DU
combat zones. US forces caused the mess. They claim that DU is harmless
so they should have no reason to deny this request.  The US Government
should also undertake the full cost of DU clean-up.  Based on clean-up in
US military and DU manufacturing locations this may take several years
and the costs may be very high.  However monitoring should be done by
an independent UN agency.

6. Protection for returning refugees and aid workers:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under no circumstances should refugees be encouraged to return to Kosova
until DU contaminated areas have been identified and contained. This will
include main roads as well as villages where anti-tank attacks have
occurred.  Nato governments have a major responsibility to ensure the
safety of civilians against hazards caused by Nato operations.  This includes aid
workers from many other countries.

Since a peace agreement has been signed this evening these issues require
IMMEDIATE action and assurances by the UK and US Governments.


NEED FOR UN TO DEMAND DU & OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
==================================================
These fundamental questions affect the health and safety of all people in,
or entering Balkans combat zones - in Kosova and many parts of Serbia.
Since the ground force will be a UN force, with troops and civilians from
other nations as well as Nato, it is most appropriate that ALL governments
concerned should seek these re-assurances directly through the UN.

The urgency of these measures cannot be over-emphasised for the safety of
all concerned.

These may be important supplementary questions, in particular provision of
specialist medical teams equipped to decontaminate and treat troops and
civilians known to have been exposed to DU contamination.

By copy of this post DU-list subscribers and international media are urged
to relay these questions to governments.


Dai Williams
Woking, Surrey, UK
eosuk@btinternet.com

==============================================================

I hope that other DU-list subscribers can follow up the New
Scientist and BBC reports with other media contacts.

Dai
====

Dear Editors and News Teams

The UK Government made a fatal error by allowing US forces
to use Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons in Kosova and Serbia.
Robin Cook knew the dangers well enough to promise that UK
forces would not use DU munitions on 4th May.  The UK and
other Nato governments evidently did not care about DU hazards
to Serbian troops and civilians. But now we are talking about
OUR guys and the victims that Nato has claimed to be protecting.

This week UK ground troops, voluntary aid workers and returning
Kosovan refugees are about to be sent into Nato's valleys of death.
In a few years time Kosovo Syndrome will join Gulf War Syndrome
and Agent Orange in the list of US military atrocities.  Unless,
that is, Tony Blair has the courage to admit the dangers of DU
combat zones; and unless he insists that all necessary precautions
are taken NOW, BEFORE ground troops are sent in, and before
refugees are sent back naively along roads and into villages
contaminated with many tons of radioactive, toxic DU oxide dust.

RADIO 4 INVESTIGATION - TONIGHT
-------------------------------------------------------
In "Costing the Earth" tonight on BBC Radio 4, 9pm, Alex
Kirby will present the result of several week's research into the
hazards of depleted uranium (DU). This report follows Rob Edward's
article in New Scientist last Thursday (p 20), available on the New
Scientist website at:
 http://www.newscientist.co.uk/ns/19990605/newsstory6.html

Alex's report may be previewed in the Today programme in the morning.

                      =============

1. Immediate Concern: - health hazards to ground troops, civilians
and returning refugees in DU combat zones
--------------------------------------------------------------

Ground troops and civilians face a serious risk of DU contamination
in areas where US forces have used Depleted Uranium munitions.
This will come from the radioactive and chemically toxic uranium
oxide dust left over in combat zones where DU munitions have
been used.

Tankbuster planes fire 19 kilograms of DU shells per second when
attacking armoured targets.  They carry up to 374 kilos (a third
of a ton) of DU per sortie. (Source Jane's defence information).
In the last four weeks they have flown hundreds of sorties, potentially
spreading several hundred tonnes of depleted uranium into
anti-tank combat zones in Kosova and Serbia. This dust saturates
targets and blows into soil, water and buildings.  Unburned shell
fragments are relatively low risk.  The oxide dust is a nightmare,
effectively like radioactive fallout.  Decontamination is very difficult
and virtually impossible in soil and water. Contaminated fields
will never be safe for crops. 

I suspect that a significant number of other US munitions have
included DU components. A stray missile recovered in Bulgaria
recently was reported to contain U238 (DU) - not an anti-tank shell.
We (campaigners against DU) know all about the GUA8 API 30mm
armour piercing shell fired by A10's.  Jane's defence information
(0181-700 3700, Paul Beaver) will fax you 4 pages of specifications
if you want more information.  Alex is likely to include their comments.
DU is a very useful tactical material - both very dense and
pyrophoric (incendiary), ideal for kinetic energy (high pentration)
applications.  The ingenuity of the US arms industry will have
tested every possible military application for this waste product of
the nuclear industry.

2. Immediate questions for the UK government
----------------------------------------------------------------
I hope that Alex Kirby's report will ask some or all of these vital
questions and now immediate questions of the UK Government:

1. The US Government must be asked to declare all munitions
that have been used DU in Kosova and Serbia, including armour-
piercing shells, missiles, bombs, submunitions and cruise missiles.

2.  The US government must provide a map of ALL locations in
Kosova and Serbia where these DU munitions have been used.
This should also include targets in Serbia. A Pentagon message
3 works ago confirmed they will expect this request.

3. An independent environmental monitoring programme
must be in the first phase of ground troop intervention.  This must
be properly equipped to monitor DU oxide dust contamination
and results must be published for each area.  The alpha radiation
given off by Uranium 238 (DU) oxide requires specially callibrated
equipment.  Standard military radiation meters (designed for nuclear
weapons) are not sensitive enough (refer Doug Rokke, cordinator
of Gulf War DU cleanup teams, now at Alabama State University
work phone 001-256 782 5563, home phone 001-256 435 0770).

4. All UK troops must be fully briefed on the hazards
of DU contaminated areas and equipment.  They should be
provided with full protection and decontamination facilities. The US
government have refused to use the procedures and training videos
developed for them by Doug Rokke's team after the Gulf War
because they highlight dangers that the US Dept of Defense do not
wish to admit).

5. The UK government should alert all other Nato
governments to this issue so that similar precautions can be
taken for other Nato ground forces.  Ideally USA ground troops should

be used to clean up DU combat zones.  They caused the mess. They
and their Rand researchers claim that DU is harmless.  Let them prove
this - at their own risk.  Invite Bill Clinton to enter a Serbian tank hit
by GUA8 DU shells, or to drink water from the same area.

6. Under no circumstances should refugees be encouraged
to return to Kosova until DU contaminated areas have been
identified and contained. This will include main roads as well
as villages where anti-tank attacks have occurred.

3. More Nato denials expected
-------------------------------------------

The main problem is that the UK government have tacitly
supported assertions by the US Government and Nato
spokesmen (eg Major Baggio on the Today programme, 7 May)
that DU weapons are no more dangerous than "other metals
including mercury".  Mercury is of course highly toxic, but
is not radioactive.  DU emits short range but high energy alpha
radiation which is well know to be a serious cancer hazard
if inhaled or ingested through contaminaterd food or water.

Having minimised the risks of DU it will be hard for the US and
UK governments to admit to its danger now.  Instead I expect
a new campaign of dis-information to justify its use.  But the DU
cat is now out of the bag through the Internet. There are
now many sources of information about the hazards of DU
indicated in the New Scientist article and expected in Alex's
progeramme.  Prime source is the DU mailing list :
  http://www.egroups.com/group/du-list

4. Further information
------------------------------

I will forward a separate message received yesterday from
Hans de Jonge stgvisie@xs4all.nl Stichting Visie Amsterdam
with analysis of DU dust samples analysed following the El Al crash.
His conclusions for hazards in Kosova are very similar to mine.
Many independent sources of DU information are now available
on the Internet.  Get them from:
-  DU list (see above),
- RAMA   http://www.rama-usa.org/index.htm 
- or Tara Thornton at the Military Toxics Project in the USA
Tel 001-207 783 5091 or Email mtpdu@ime.net.
In the UK contact the Campaign Against DU based in Manchester,
tel 0161-834 8301  Email gmdcnd@gn.apc.org


I hope that the UK press will follow up Alex Kirby's programme tonight
- hard and fast.  I hope that BBC World Service will share these questions
with other Nato countries.  DU should be a priority news topic for
Tuesday after Alex's broadcast. Alex Kirby and Rob Edwards' reports
are expected to lead to questions in the House of Commons this week,
and in other Nato countries.

yours in concern for peace

Dai Williams
32 Send Road, Send, Woking, Surrey GU23 7ET
Tel: 01483-222017    Email: eosuk@btinternet.com

(My interest: I was part of a team implementing an occupational
health monitoring programme in Shell's Vancouver Refinery
in 1985-6 and have an ongoing interest in occupational health.
I became concerned about the DU issue since reading a warning
from Dr Rosalie Bertell, environmental epidemiologist, in March -
refer links on the RAMA website.  There are many reports of the
hazards of DU, and repeated evidence of attempts by the US
government to minimise concern about the risks of DU, most
recently the Rand report in April 99).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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