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Depleted Uranium is a waste product left over from the uranium enrichment process for making nuclear weapons. Because the uranium -235 has been removed the dose of external radiation received from depleted uranium is about 60% of what would be received from regular uranium. Depleted Uranium is very dense and is used in shells for its armor penetration and destructive power. When the depleted uranium shell hits a target it creates a firestorm of depleted uranium oxide particles. Up to 70% of the depleted uranium burns after impact. Some of this extremely fine ceramic uranium dust is finer than the filters on military gas masks. This dust is spread by the wind, taken up by plants, inhaled and absorbed by the human body and becomes part of the food chain. Children playing in the dirt will be exposed to depleted uranium. It is estimated that over 300 tons of depleted uranium were used in the first war with Iraq in 1991. Depleted uranium shell holes that were tested 10 years later were still up to 1,000 times more radioactive than the normal background radiation. There are now over 500,000 American soldiers on permanent disability with depleted uranium believed to be the cause of their medical complaints. Some 1,000 to 3,000 tons of depleted uranium was used in the second Gulf war in 2003 with a very significant amount used in attacks on targets in cities.
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Steven Raker is the author of this article on Depleted Uranium 500,000 American soldiers on disability. Find more information about Depleted Uranium the child killerhere.
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