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Doesn't really ring any bells.

The only uranium in the M1-A1/A2 arsenal is in the rod of the sabot round. That rod is not exposed to the crew in the hull, in handling or the gun tube (during the firing process) so there is no obvious path from sabot rod to the interior of the tank.

Now, *IF* a US tank (or two) took friendly fire from a DU round -- from a Bradley -- which is not impossible cause they sometimes 'dust off' gomers from around the tanks, then it makes sense for the exerior of the tanks to get DU on them. IF/when the crews then opened the hatches and vents, the interior would of course get that fine dust inside. It would likely stick to everything. It's not like they hose down the inside of the hull in Iraq with carwash soap. So my point is that to me, the likely source of DU contamination is an external source -- the Bradleys (likely) or an errant sabot round (unlikely). To a smaller extent, the A-10s contribute to battlefield contamination as well. Have to look at numbers of total rounds expended per weapons system, or just rounds out of inventory.

There is the issue of "life dose" -- rads -- from exposure to ionizing radiation. Since FR likes to deal with facts, I'd hold off on any fear mongering and tinfoil hat polishing until we have some idea of the exposure level and duration of the crew members. It may turn out that my life dose from flying at FL 40 is worse than what these tankers got. People fear radiation out of a mixture of good sense and ignorance.

Today's X-ray machines employ far less radiation per image than the old dentist chair technician-must-wear-a-lead-shield-and-leave-the-room monsters. So comparing the exposure to "1 X-ray" leaves a lot of room for hyperbole. Again, while caution is warranted, let's wait on more facts.

net: The M1-A1 and M2/M3 are not inherently harmful to the crews because they carry DU munitions. The battlefield environment is made more hazardous by the use of DU, but likely minimally so. Contrast the hazard level of a battlefield environment where our tankers cannot engage at long range and see-first-kill-first because the rounds are not DU. WE save our troops in part becasue our DU munitions can kill at long range AND kill what they hit.

Imagine the fuss if we used lead or mercury (or other heavy metals) in our munitions ... ;-)