🚀 go-pugleaf

"Matthew Russotto" <russotto@grace.speakeasy.net> wrote in message
news:PhWdncpN2tsF1IGjXTWcog@speakeasy.net...

> >And I shall learn what from that tedious testimony? That "depleted
uranium"
> >is radioactive? Clinton, tell me, does the word "Depleted" get anything
into
> >your mental processor? Can you go to the dictionary and look it up? I
won't
> >even begin to suggest you look at a chemistry text or physics textbook.
Just
> >look up the meaning of the word "Depleted" and see if it gives you a clue
> >anywhere.
>
> Depleted uranium is radioactive; it is an alpha emitter.


God I knew this bullshit would come up.... I knew the brain dead just had to
make the claim..... Lots of things emit some radiation. The question should
be (but sadly is not in the political twit circles) is it more active than
background radiation?

I can hold out hope that the important parts of the information below will
be understood by those with more than .25% brain capacity.  Yes, depleted
Uranium emits some alpha particles ( those are blocked by the skin) and not
hazardous. The beta emissions are blocked by normal clothing. The gamma
particles are so low as to not be something worth of discussion except
amongst hysterical fanatics.

===========

Q. What makes depleted uranium a potential hazard?

A. Depleted uranium is a heavy metal that is also slightly radioactive.
Heavy metals (uranium, lead, tungsten, etc.) have chemical toxicity
properties that, in high doses, can cause adverse health effects. Depleted
uranium that remains outside the body can not harm you.

A common misconception is that radiation is depleted uranium's primary
hazard. This is not the case under most battlefield exposure scenarios.
Depleted uranium is approximately 40 percent less radioactive than natural
uranium. Depleted uranium emits alpha and beta particles, and gamma rays.
Alpha particles, the primary radiation type produced by depleted uranium,
are blocked by skin, while beta particles are blocked by the boots and
battle dress utility uniform (BDUs) typically worn by service members. While
gamma rays are a form of highly-penetrating energy , the amount of gamma
radiation emitted by depleted uranium is very low. Thus, depleted uranium
does not significantly add to the background radiation that we encounter
every day.

When fired, or after "cooking off" in fires or explosions, the exposed
depleted uranium rod poses an extremely low radiological threat as long as
it remains outside the body. Taken into the body via metal fragments or
dust-like particles, depleted uranium may pose a long-term health hazard to
personnel if the amount is large. However, the amount which remains in the
body depends on a number of factors, including the amount inhaled or
ingested, the particle size and the ability of the particles to dissolve in
body fluids.

Q. Were any studies on the health effects of depleted uranium ever conducted
prior to the onset of the Gulf War? What were the findings of those studies?

A. The health effects of uranium have been studied extensively for over 50
years. In September 1999 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry published a Toxicological Profile for Uranium, an update to the
original profile published in May 1989. While natural and depleted uranium
are considered chemically toxic, they are not considered a radiation hazard.
The environmental effects of depleted uranium have been studied
comprehensively by a wide range of governmental and non-governmental bodies
both before and after the Gulf War. Burn tests and other evaluations
performed under simulated battlefield conditions indicated that the health
risks associated with the battlefield use of depleted uranium were minimal
and even those could be reduced even more by simple, field-expedient
measures, especially, avoidance of depleted uranium-contaminated vehicles
and sites. During and after the Gulf War, personnel awareness of the hazards
posed by battlefield depleted uranium contamination was generally low. As a
result, many personnel did not practice field-expedient measures that would
have prevented or mitigated possible exposures.


Q. What are the health effects of contact with unfired depleted uranium
munitions or unperforated (intact) armor on the various weapons systems,
such as the Abrams Heavy Tank?

A. Unfired depleted uranium munitions are encased in thin metal jackets that
seal in alpha and beta particles, and allow only extremely slight gamma
emissions which fall well below regulatory health and safety limits.
Similarly, depleted uranium panels used in tank armor pose no health risk
because the depleted uranium is sealed inside several inches of regular
steel armor. Alpha radiation, which is the major concern for internalized
depleted uranium, is not an external concern because alpha radiation does
not penetrate the outer layers of skin. The second source of radiation is
from the depleted uranium rounds stored on board the tank. While soldiers
are exposed to an increased level of radiation from the stored munitions,
the cumulative exposure levels for tank crewmembers are within applicable
guidelines. Since depleted uranium munitions are only used in combat, only
forward-deployed vehicles are routinely uploaded with depleted uranium
munitions.

    One must examine what "acceptable guidelines" are in this politically
correct era. The average soldier in desert storm got significantly more
radiation exposure from having an x-ray that the total exposure to depleted
Uranium.