Press Release: For Immediate Release:
Depleted Uranium in Iraq - More Evidence of Contamination

Members of the Manchester based group CADU recently met up with a study team just back from  Iraq. The team had heard evidence that some depleted uranium (DU) munitions used in the war had been contaminated with enriched Uranium. This DU has been dubbed ‘dirty’ DU because it is very radioactive. One member of the fact finding party took some very high radiation readings: indicating the presence of enriched Uranium.  A recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) study (1) in Kosovo also found traces of enriched uranium waste from supposed DU projectiles. Even before this news broke eminent scientists were convinced that DU could have contributed to increased cancer rates in Iraq and to Gulf War Syndrome. Contaminated DU gives out more radioactive particles than  uncontaminated DU (2). The dangers posed to veterans and Iraqi locals therefore could be worse than originally thought.

‘Dirty’ DU Could Be From Spent Nuclear Fuel

The most likely reason for the presence of enriched Uranium (Isotope 236) is that the DU came from spent nuclear fuel. There are two types of DU. The first is a by product of the enrichment process. This one is mostly Uranium 238. The second is DU from spent fuel rods this contains the highly  radioactive Uranium 236. It is contamination from this second substance that has lead to the DU being  dubbed ‘dirty’.

History of DU use in Iraq.

The US Air Force A-10 aircraft fired 940,000 30 mm rounds of DU during combat in Iraq in 1991. When a DU penetrator strikes a target, up to 70% of the penetrator oxidises into fumes and cigarette ash-like dust. The US military has admitted to using an overall total of 315 tonnes of DU for the weapons used during the Gulf War.

The study team to Iraq consisted of Damacio Lopez, Executive Director of the International Depleted Uranium Study Team (IDUST); and Ramsay Clark, former US Attorney General and founder of the International Action Centre (IAC).

Technical Notes.

On January 17th 2001, 20 air exposure measurements were taken in southern Iraq, some 150 km south of Basrah on the DMZ road to Saudi Arabia. Findings are listed below:

-  In Study Area 1, 6 readings of entry and exit holes on destroyed armoured tanks were taken.Exposure rates of 60-120 counts/minute were recorded.*

-  In Study Area 2, 4 readings of entry and exit holes on destroyed armoured tanks were taken. Exposure rates of 500-1945 counts/minute were recorded.% **

-  4 readings of a single 30 mm intact projectile were taken. Exposure rates of 2100-2450 counts/minute were recorded. **

Background exposure rates of 7-21 counts/minute were measured in 6 control areas away from the destroyed targets.

* Typical of DU ** Indicative of the presence of enriched uranium

These results indicate the presence of both low and high level radiological pollution:

The radiation instrument used was a German-made hand-held MR 9511 ABX-Alert, manufactured by Muller Lehrtechnik.

Laboratory tests of the projectile must be made before further conclusions can be drawn.

Contact: The CADU Office on the number below or ..
Damacio Lopez
International Depleted Uranium Study Team (IDUST), Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA
Tel.: 001 505-867-0141 E-Mail:  idust@swcp.com

26  January  2001

1) Dr. Souad Al-Azzawi (Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad), ‘Environmental Pollution Resulting from the Use of Depleted Uranium Weaponry against Iraq during 1991’. ‘NATO ammunition contained enriched uranium traces – UNEP’, Jordan Times,  18 January 2001.

2) Ordinary DU mainly gives out Alpha radiation. (See New Scientist, 20 January 2001 Vol. 155  p. 122   Rob Edwards, “One too many: if just a single alpha particle can give you cancer, then there is no such thing as a safe dose of depleted uranium.” ) The presence of U236 means that more beta radiation is given out. Beta radiation is lighter it also travels much further. It needs a centimetre of aluminium to stop it. You do not need to breath it in or ingest it in order for it to cause damage.

<ENDS>

***NEW CADU CONTACT DETAILS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY***

The Campaign Against Depleted Uranium (CADU) can also be contacted at the above address BUT the phone and fax number is: +44 (0)161 273 8293

The CADU web site is:   www.cadu.org.uk

Please feel free to add a link from your Website to ours. :-)

*Should you wish to receive the quarterly CADU mailing by E-Mail please send a message to the above E-Mail address*