Radioactivity Detected in Bosnia Where NATO Used Depleted Uranium Shells

voanews.com ^ | 11 Nov 2002, 20:40 UTC | VOA News

[Destro]

Radioactivity Detected in Bosnia Where NATO Used Depleted Uranium Shells

VOA News

11 Nov 2002, 20:40 UTC

United Nations environmental experts have said they have detected radioactivity in three areas of Bosnia where NATO forces used depleted uranium shells during an air strike in 1995.

U.N. Environment Program officials Monday warned against deploying forces in those areas for fear of a possible health risk coming from the radioactive material.

The head of the U.N. team, Pekka Haavisto, said the three places of concern were an ammunition storage site near Sarajevo, a nearby tank repair factory and a military barracks in Han Pijesak in eastern Bosnia.

The areas were hit by NATO air strikes using depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds in 1995 as part of an effort to curb attacks by Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Investigators had probed 14 sites over the past month.

NATO authorities last year launched a probe into the possible link between the use of depleted uranium ammunition in the Balkans and increased cancer rates among peacekeepers who had served in the area. But a committee reported that medical research so far had not proved any link between the weapons and the health problems.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

[Destro]

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[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

United Nations environmental experts have said they have detected radioactivity in three areas of Bosnia where NATO forces used depleted uranium shells during an air strike in 1995.

Duh!

[bobi]

but NATO investigation found that NATO use of depleted uranium in NATO bombs and NATO shells during the NATO bombing of Serb position was harmless.

If you have any health concerns just talk to the nearest NATO public relation officer.

NATO - Nice And Trusted Organisation

[FreedomCalls]

So?

[xm177e2]

Yeah, but HOW MUCH radioactivity? There's natural background radiation, and that's not harmful at all (in fact, it's probably good for us). A little bit more isn't going to hurt anything, but a lot more would.

So HOW MUCH radioactivity is there? If the article won't say, then it's absolutely worthless.

[FreedomCalls]

You know you can detect radioactivity ANYWHERE. There is a natural level of background radiation everywhere. It is higher than normal in people's basements and in the brick in the veneer on your house.

Given that this article did not say that they detected levels that significantly excced normal background levels, I believe that this is just anti-american propaganda. I'm ashamed that you fell for it.

[Physicist]

No mention anywhere of what level of radiation was detected. DU isn't terribly radioactive; I find it hard to believe that it would result in unhealthy levels of radioactivity except perhaps in some highly localized areas.

[Physicist]

I should add that moderate levels of radiation are actually good for you. I wouldn't be surprised if, on balance, the DU shells prevent more cancer than they cause.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Bullshit.

Frankly put, but the UN Enviro's are dead wrong.

THERE IS NO HEALTH RISK from the low-level readioactivity from these bullet - unless you're being shot at the bullets.

The UN enviro's are using this to attack the US defense forces.

[go star go]

NATO includes the U.S. Military. I personally trust the U.S. Military much much more than some left wing U.N. evironmental gastapo...

[Poohbah]

This report is a load of crap. I have 100% tile floors in my house--I have more radiation from that than depleted uranium releases.

[Gary Boldwater]

Well gee, if the radioactivity is so dangerous then all the people who handled the ammo to load it on the planes must be dead!
Remember the sun is an uncontrolled fusion reactor spewing its waste products directly at earth. You have a greater chance of getting cancer from an 8 hour over exposure to the sun than living next to Three Mile Island for 8 lifetimes.
More nukes and less kooks!!!!!

[Gary Boldwater]

Hormesis?

[toddst]

Why are you attacking the poster?

. . . a committee reported that medical research so far had not proved any link between the weapons and the health problems.

This seems pretty clear that "depleted uranium" means just that.

[Poohbah]

More nukes and less kooks!

Unfortunately, the Democrats want the kooks to have nukes :o)

[FreedomPoster]

>>If the article won't say, then it's absolutely worthless.

Not if your objective is to frighten the sheeple and provoke an emotional reaction.

[jwalsh07]

It is estimated that if you held a DU penetrator rod in your hand for 250 hours, you would get a dose of 50 rem which is the occupational limit for extremeities. The alpha particles will not penetrate human skin and the beta particles won't penetrate BDU's.

So if you're not eating the stuff, you're in pretty good shape.

[aruanan]

Yes, but look at one of the more recent issues of Science in which the results of the study of DU in Europe were described as posing miniscule risk to human health. This is the study which was morphed into the voanews article.

[Poohbah]

So if you're not eating the stuff, you're in pretty good shape.

But, of course, CHILDREN will EAT the DU chips, because we've gotten rid of lead-based paint! Ban DU, FOR THE CHILL-ILL-RUUUN!