the use and effects of depleted uranium?

[iamWolverine]

Depleted uranium was used in the first Gulf War, and I don't know if it has been used yet in this war, but I have heard that it would be used. Anyone know more about whether or not it's been used and the effects?

 

[Emos]

It's used in tank sabot and A-10 penetrator rounds. The very high density of the metal makes it suitable for punching through armor plate.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Emos
It's used in tank sabot and A-10 penetrator rounds. The very high density of the metal makes it suitable for punching through armor plate.

What he said.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: iamWolverine
Depleted uranium was used in the first Gulf War, and I don't know if it has been used yet in this war, but I have heard that it would be used. Anyone know more about whether or not it's been used and the effects?

I am sure it has been used. If your vehicle was hit by a DU sabot, the after affects are the least of your worries.

 

[Weyoun]

These links should be helpful:

Depleted Uranium in the Gulf

Depleted Uranium Information

DU - Health Concerns

Basically, DU is used in the armor and shells of M1A1s and Challenger tanks. Iraq currently has no known capability to deploy DU munitions.

charrison, the after effects of DU ammunition are more of a concern to the cleanup crew and patrolling marines than the vehicle's (most likely EX) crew. As you can see from the above links, the US Army has three classifications for DU exposure, ranging from extreme to light, of which roughly 50 Servicemen in total were part. The main problem with fired DU munitions is the uranium dust that becomes airborne immediately after impact. This material isn't particularly radioactive, but has chemical properties similar to other heavy metals, like lead and mercury. These can form salts that, when in relatively high concentrations, can often cause internal organ failure. However, no known US serviceman has been exposed to such levels.

The dust nature of released DU has two important properties. Firstly, since it is airbourne, it can be carried by winds to nearby units or population centres. This isn't of serious concern, since the small amount of DU dust is largely confined to the target vehicle. Any amount that escapes from the chassis will be spread over a much greater area, reducing concentrations far below dangerous levels. Secondly, since the DU is confined to small quantities of dust contained in enclosed shells, its spread can be largely reduced by cleanup teams. Most of the DU dust can be removed, vastly reducing long term risk to civilians in close proximity. Furthermore, most tank battles of the 1991 Gulf War were fought in the desert, so any already unlikely soil contamination would be of reduced significance. Additionally, this particular soil contamination doesn't pose the 'biological accumulation' threat that most heavy metals do, since the desert isn't a very biologically active environment

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Weyoun
These links should be helpful:

Depleted Uranium in the Gulf

Depleted Uranium Information

DU - Health Concerns

Basically, DU is used in the armor and shells of M1A1s and Challenger tanks. Iraq currently has no known capability to deploy DU munitions.

charrison, the after effects of DU ammunition are more of a concern to the cleanup crew and patrolling marines than the vehicle's (most likely EX) crew. As you can see from the above links, the US Army has three classifications for DU exposure, ranging from extreme to light, of which roughly 50 Servicemen in total were part. The main problem with fired DU munitions is the uranium dust that becomes airborne immediately after impact. This material isn't particularly radioactive, but has chemical properties similar to other heavy metals, like lead and mercury. These can form salts that, when in relatively high concentrations, can often cause internal organ failure. However, no known US serviceman has been exposed to such levels.

The dust nature of released DU has two important properties. Firstly, since it is airbourne, it can be carried by winds to nearby units or population centres. This isn't of serious concern, since the small amount of DU dust is largely confined to the target vehicle. Any amount that escapes from the chassis will be spread over a much greater area, reducing concentrations far below dangerous levels. Secondly, since the DU is confined to small quantities of dust contained in enclosed shells, its spread can be largely reduced by cleanup teams. Most of the DU dust can be removed, vastly reducing long term risk to civilians in close proximity. Furthermore, most tank battles of the 1991 Gulf War were fought in the desert, so any already unlikely soil contamination would be of reduced significance. Additionally, this particular soil contamination doesn't pose the 'biological accumulation' threat that most heavy metals do, since the desert isn't a very biologically active environment

I am aware it can be aerosolized, but very little DU is actually used in the gulf war. The bulk of the DU was away from population centers as well. I recall reading that a total of 3 foot cube of DU was used in the gulf war(around 50 tons).

 

[steell]

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.

A quote from Here

Anyone else noticed how many newbies are in this forum spreading disinformation?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: GuyDebordJudoClub
Nice try to disinform by the .mil

The truth is there:

your crap is just as biased

 

Originally posted by: steell
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.

A quote from Here

Anyone else noticed how many newbies are in this forum spreading disinformation?

i have noticed. Kinda getting annoying. Anyway, I have a question. Is part of the M1A1 battle tanks armor made of DU? Like the front plating at all?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: steell
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.

A quote from Here

Anyone else noticed how many newbies are in this forum spreading disinformation?

i have noticed. Kinda getting annoying. Anyway, I have a question. Is part of the M1A1 battle tanks armor made of DU? Like the front plating at all?

Yes it is. DU is part of the armor.

 

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: steell
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.

A quote from Here

Anyone else noticed how many newbies are in this forum spreading disinformation?

i have noticed. Kinda getting annoying. Anyway, I have a question. Is part of the M1A1 battle tanks armor made of DU? Like the front plating at all?

Yes it is. DU is part of the armor.

Just confirming. Thanks.

Kinda throws the whole "DU is very very bad" thing into a tailspin, eh? All of our tank crews would be dead by now.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: FallenHero

Originally posted by: steell
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.

A quote from Here

Anyone else noticed how many newbies are in this forum spreading disinformation?

i have noticed. Kinda getting annoying. Anyway, I have a question. Is part of the M1A1 battle tanks armor made of DU? Like the front plating at all?

Yes it is. DU is part of the armor.

Just confirming. Thanks.

Kinda throws the whole "DU is very very bad" thing into a tailspin, eh? All of our tank crews would be dead by now.

DU is relativly stable with a 3.5billion year 1/2 life. It is not that radioactive. The problem is when it breaks up and gets aerosolized. Heavy metals in the body is generally bad.

 

Originally posted by: charrison

DU is relativly stable with a 3.5billion year 1/2 life. It is not that radioactive. The problem is when it breaks up and gets aerosolized. Heavy metals in the body is generally bad.

Some were arguing earlier that it was radioactive...highly radioactive. That is what I was referring to. Anyway, Im headed to bed...night.

 

[rahvin]

Biologically Uranium is a pretty severe toxin if ingested. Not nearly as lethal as plutonium but quite high up there. It's affects outside of being ingested are miniscule. So don't eat DU and you won't have a problem.

 

[KenGr]

This thread seems to be headed in the right direction. Keep in mind:

Uranium is one of the most widely occuring elements in the world. To some exent it is in almost all rocks and soil. You've heard of Radon gas? It comes from the decay of Uranium. Depleted Uranium means it has less of the radioactive isotopes of Uranium than natural Uranium. Therefore it is less radioactive than the stuff in nature.

All heavy metals are toxic to some extent. Uranium, like lead has some toxicity but only in very large amounts which would be almost impossible to ingest.

There have been extensive studies of DU exposure undertaken by the US, various European countries and the World Health Organization due to extensive use of DU in the Balkans. All confirmed that there are no identifiable health impacts due to DU (other than direct hits, of course).

 

[Marshallj]

I'll agree with what the majority of the people on here are saying.


People hear "uranium" and think of the radioactivity being harmful, but the truth of the matter is that nuclear effects are not as bad as the chemical effects. Like most heavy metals, uranium is very poisonous. If you're exposed to it too much, you're much more likely to be harmed by its poisonous chemical properties than its low level radiation.

 

[Ocuflox]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: iamWolverine
Depleted uranium was used in the first Gulf War, and I don't know if it has been used yet in this war, but I have heard that it would be used. Anyone know more about whether or not it's been used and the effects?

I am sure it has been used. If your vehicle was hit by a DU sabot, the after affects are the least of your worries.

lol, nicely put

 

[OFFascist]

The effects are that they leave large ass holes in you.

 

[Vash341]

As i understand it the problem with depleated uranium is not from it sitting on the out side of the tank of coating a bullet. However. it becomes dangerouse when things such as bullets impacs the armor and particles of depleated uranium flake off into fine particles and are inhaled. i htink something like this was stated earlyer, just wanted to try to sum it up.