Health Hazards of Health Hazards of UraniumUranium

Qais Ghanem, MD, FRCP©Qais Ghanem, MD, FRCP©

LitivenkoLitivenko

Mark H. Gaffney's - Mark H. Gaffney's - RenseRense Natural uranium ore Natural uranium ore

minus minus fissionable isotope, U-235 fissionable isotope, U-235 == Depleted Uranium, primarily Depleted Uranium, primarily U-238U-238

U-235 U-235 when enriched to 3% is used when enriched to 3% is used to to fuelfuel nuclear reactors nuclear reactorsWhen further enriched to 90% it When further enriched to 90% it becomes "weapons grade" and is becomes "weapons grade" and is suitable for use in suitable for use in nuclear weaponsnuclear weapons

Depleted uranium has a Depleted uranium has a half life of half life of 4.54.5 billion billion years years 200 tonnes of radioactive DU 200 tonnes of radioactive DU

were fired by invading US forces were fired by invading US forces into buildings, homes, streets and into buildings, homes, streets and gardens all over Baghdad. gardens all over Baghdad.

After a DU-coated shell strikes, it After a DU-coated shell strikes, it goes straight through before goes straight through before exploding into a burning vapour exploding into a burning vapour which turns to dust which turns to dust

4.5 billion years4.5 billion years

DU particles already released into DU particles already released into the environment, given their the environment, given their insidious effects and insidious effects and 4.5 billion4.5 billion year half-life, will go on killing year half-life, will go on killing innocent people for a very long innocent people for a very long time, indeed, perhaps for the rest time, indeed, perhaps for the rest of human history, essentially for of human history, essentially for all of time all of time

Trojan Horse of nuclear Trojan Horse of nuclear warwar

Described as the Described as the Trojan HorseTrojan Horse of of nuclear war, depleted uranium is nuclear war, depleted uranium is the weapon that keeps killing. The the weapon that keeps killing. The half-life of Uranium-238 is half-life of Uranium-238 is 4.5 billion 4.5 billion yearsyears, the age of the earth. And, as , the age of the earth. And, as Uranium-238 decays into daughter Uranium-238 decays into daughter radioactive products, in four steps radioactive products, in four steps before turning into lead, it continues before turning into lead, it continues to release more radiation at each to release more radiation at each step step

Chest X-ray every few Chest X-ray every few minutesminutes

Targeted Iraqi vehicles stood no chance. Targeted Iraqi vehicles stood no chance. Iraqi soldiers who came under DU Iraqi soldiers who came under DU attack: Very few lived to tell about it. attack: Very few lived to tell about it. Within seconds, most were charred Within seconds, most were charred beyond recognition in an incendiary beyond recognition in an incendiary fireball. fireball.

US military jargon even coined a new US military jargon even coined a new term, "crispy critters," to describe the term, "crispy critters," to describe the grisly Iraqi corpses of war. grisly Iraqi corpses of war.

Continuous exposure to this level of Continuous exposure to this level of irradiation would be like having irradiation would be like having a chest a chest X-ray every few minutesX-ray every few minutes

Spread by WindSpread by Wind

Large annual Large annual dust stormsdust storms originating in North Africa, the originating in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia will Middle East, and Central Asia will quickly spread the radioactive quickly spread the radioactive contamination around the world contamination around the world in future years. Downwind from in future years. Downwind from the radioactive devastation in the radioactive devastation in IraqIraq, , IsraelIsrael is also suffering from is also suffering from large increases in breast cancer, large increases in breast cancer, leukemia and childhood diabetes. leukemia and childhood diabetes.

1000 mile radius1000 mile radius

PathogenesisPathogenesis

Penetration of DUPenetration of DU

Once aerosolized, DU is loose in the environment Once aerosolized, DU is loose in the environment and it's only a matter of time before it finds its and it's only a matter of time before it finds its way into way into water and foodwater and food; in which case, DU ; in which case, DU particles, due to their small size, are easily particles, due to their small size, are easily absorbable through the intestinal lining. absorbable through the intestinal lining.

They are even more easily They are even more easily inhaledinhaled, and will even , and will even pass through the pass through the skinskin, making exposure , making exposure unavoidable in contaminated areas. Submicron-unavoidable in contaminated areas. Submicron-sized DU particles behave like a gas. They are sized DU particles behave like a gas. They are too too small to be removed by the cilia in the small to be removed by the cilia in the bronchiolesbronchioles and have no trouble reaching the tiny and have no trouble reaching the tiny alveolar sacs in the lungs. alveolar sacs in the lungs.

Particles of this size can pass directly into the Particles of this size can pass directly into the blood and will cross every blood-barrier in the blood and will cross every blood-barrier in the body>body>BrainBrain

Use of Radioactive Materials as a Military Use of Radioactive Materials as a Military WeaponWeapon

"As a gas warfare instrument the material would "As a gas warfare instrument the material would be ground into particles of microscopic size to be ground into particles of microscopic size to form dust and smoke and distributed by a form dust and smoke and distributed by a ground-fired projectile, land vehicles, or aerial ground-fired projectile, land vehicles, or aerial bombs. In this form it would be bombs. In this form it would be inhaledinhaled by by personnel. personnel.

The amount necessary to cause death to a The amount necessary to cause death to a person inhaling the material is person inhaling the material is extremely smallextremely small … There are … There are no known methods of treatmentno known methods of treatment for for such a casualty … it will permeate a standard such a casualty … it will permeate a standard gas mask filter in quantities large enough to be gas mask filter in quantities large enough to be extremely damaging.“extremely damaging.“

MMemo to General Leslie R. Groves, dated October 30, 1943, from three of the top emo to General Leslie R. Groves, dated October 30, 1943, from three of the top physicists in the Manhattan Project, physicists in the Manhattan Project, Dr James B Conant, A H Compton, and H C UreyDr James B Conant, A H Compton, and H C Urey

LEGALITY TEST FOR LEGALITY TEST FOR WEAPONS UNDER WEAPONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAWINTERNATIONAL LAW 44 reasons why using depleted uranium reasons why using depleted uranium

weapons violates the UN Convention on weapons violates the UN Convention on Human Rights:Human Rights:

TEMPORAL TEST – Weapons must not TEMPORAL TEST – Weapons must not continue to act continue to act after the battleafter the battle is over. is over.

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST – Weapons must ENVIRONMENTAL TEST – Weapons must not be unduly harmful to the not be unduly harmful to the environmentenvironment..

TERRITORIAL TEST – Weapons must not TERRITORIAL TEST – Weapons must not act act off of the battlefieldoff of the battlefield..

HUMANENESS TEST – Weapons must not HUMANENESS TEST – Weapons must not kill or wound kill or wound inhumanlyinhumanly..

Death TollDeath Toll

White House spokespersons and national White House spokespersons and national security advisers have repeatedly warned security advisers have repeatedly warned that Islamic terrorists could strike cities in that Islamic terrorists could strike cities in the US with radiological weapons. the US with radiological weapons.

It's clear that America's leaders have It's clear that America's leaders have already done what we've accused already done what we've accused terrorists of only planning to do. Worse, terrorists of only planning to do. Worse, they've done it on a greater scale.they've done it on a greater scale.

America's use of DU weapons has already America's use of DU weapons has already caused the deaths of caused the deaths of hundreds of times hundreds of times more Iraqi and Afghani civiliansmore Iraqi and Afghani civilians, including , including women and children, than died in the women and children, than died in the 9/119/11 attack attack

Brig. General William Brig. General William LooneyLooney "If they turn on the radars we're going "If they turn on the radars we're going

to blow up their goddamn SAMs to blow up their goddamn SAMs (surface-to-air missiles). They know (surface-to-air missiles). They know we we own their countryown their country. We own their . We own their airspaceairspace... We dictate the way they ... We dictate the way they live and talklive and talk. And that's what's great . And that's what's great about America right now. It's a good about America right now. It's a good thing, especially when there's a lot of thing, especially when there's a lot of oil out there we need."oil out there we need."

(US Brig. General William Looney in (US Brig. General William Looney in 1999, referring to 1999, referring to IraqIraq).).

Mark H. Gaffney's Mark H. Gaffney's

““In short, our leaders are guilty of In short, our leaders are guilty of not merely incompetence, nor not merely incompetence, nor even malfeasance, but of outright even malfeasance, but of outright terrorismterrorism” ”

Morbidity and Morbidity and MortalityMortality

Rectal CancerRectal Cancer

Soldiers who served in Soldiers who served in Bradley fighting vehicles, Bradley fighting vehicles, where it was common to sit where it was common to sit on ammunition boxes where on ammunition boxes where depleted uranium ammunition depleted uranium ammunition was stored, are now reporting was stored, are now reporting that many have that many have rectal cancer.rectal cancer.

KNOWN ILLNESSES INFLICTED BY KNOWN ILLNESSES INFLICTED BY INTERNAL-IZATION OF DEPLETED URANIUM INTERNAL-IZATION OF DEPLETED URANIUM PARTICLESPARTICLES

Table 1: Compiled by Leuren Moret from Interviews with Gulf War Vets and their familiesTable 1: Compiled by Leuren Moret from Interviews with Gulf War Vets and their families

abnormal births and birth defects; genetic alterationsabnormal births and birth defects; genetic alterationsabnormal metabolism of semen: contains amine & ammonium alkalineabnormal metabolism of semen: contains amine & ammonium alkalineacute autoimmune symptoms (lung-, liver-, kidney failure)acute autoimmune symptoms (lung-, liver-, kidney failure)acute myeloid leukemia (deadly within days or weeks), chronic myeloid acute myeloid leukemia (deadly within days or weeks), chronic myeloid leukemia, brain tumors , bone cancer, colon cancerleukemia, brain tumors , bone cancer, colon cancer

acute respiratory failure, asthma, chronic respiratory infections acute respiratory failure, asthma, chronic respiratory infections auto-immune deficienciesauto-immune deficiencies

Balkan-syndromeBalkan-syndromeblood in stools and urineblood in stools and urinebody function control lossbody function control lossbrain damagebrain damageburning semenburning semenburning sensationsburning sensationscalcium loss in bodycalcium loss in bodycardiovascular signs or symptomscardiovascular signs or symptomschemical sensitivitieschemical sensitivitieschronic kidney and liver disorderschronic kidney and liver disordersdiarrhea, digestive problemsdiarrhea, digestive problemsdizzinessdizzinessEpstein Barr SyndromeEpstein Barr Syndromefluid buildupfluid buildupfibromyalgia gastrointestinal signs/symptoms, general fatiguefibromyalgia gastrointestinal signs/symptoms, general fatigueChronic Fatigue Syndrome, Gulf war-syndromeChronic Fatigue Syndrome, Gulf war-syndrome

240,000/700,00 soldiers on 240,000/700,00 soldiers on permanent medical permanent medical disabilitydisability Nearly 700,000 American Gulf War Veterans Nearly 700,000 American Gulf War Veterans

returned to the US from a war that lasted just returned to the US from a war that lasted just a few weeks. Today more than a few weeks. Today more than 240,000240,000 of of those soldiers are on permanent medical those soldiers are on permanent medical disability = disability = 30%30%

Over Over 11,00011,000 are dead = are dead = 1.5%1.5% In a US Government study on post-Gulf War In a US Government study on post-Gulf War

babies born to 251 veterans, babies born to 251 veterans, 67% 67% of the of the babies were reported to have serious babies were reported to have serious illnesses or serious birth defects, born illnesses or serious birth defects, born without eyes, ears, had missing organs, without eyes, ears, had missing organs, fused fingers, thyroid or other malfunctions fused fingers, thyroid or other malfunctions

Estimates from UKEstimates from UK

In the 2003 Gulf War, estimates of In the 2003 Gulf War, estimates of 2200 tons have been given, causing 2200 tons have been given, causing about 22 million new cancer cases. about 22 million new cancer cases. Altogether the total number of Altogether the total number of cancer patients estimated using the cancer patients estimated using the UK A.E.A. data would be UK A.E.A. data would be 25,250,00025,250,000. . In July of 1998, the CIA estimated In July of 1998, the CIA estimated the population of Iraq to be the population of Iraq to be approximately approximately 24,683,31324,683,313. .

WHOWHO

Dr Dr HardanHardan is the man who documented the is the man who documented the effects of depleted uranium in Iraq between effects of depleted uranium in Iraq between 1991 and 2002.1991 and 2002.

““Leukaemia has already become the most Leukaemia has already become the most common type of cancer in Iraq among all age common type of cancer in Iraq among all age groups, but is most prevalent in the under-15s”groups, but is most prevalent in the under-15s”

““Women as young as 35 are developing breast Women as young as 35 are developing breast cancer” cancer”

““increase of over increase of over 300%300% in all types of cancer in all types of cancer over the next decade. Every form of cancer has over the next decade. Every form of cancer has jumped up at least 10% with the exception of jumped up at least 10% with the exception of bone tumours and skin cancer” bone tumours and skin cancer”

Permission DeniedPermission Denied

I arranged for a delegation from I arranged for a delegation from JapanJapan's Hiroshima hospital to come 's Hiroshima hospital to come and share their expertise in the and share their expertise in the radiological related diseases we are radiological related diseases we are likely to face over time," says likely to face over time," says HardanHardan. . "The delegation told me the Americans "The delegation told me the Americans had objected and they had decided not had objected and they had decided not to come. to come.

"Similarly, a world famous "Similarly, a world famous GermanGerman cancer specialist agreed to come, only cancer specialist agreed to come, only to be told later that he would not be to be told later that he would not be given permission to enter Iraq." given permission to enter Iraq."

Gulf War SyndromeGulf War Syndrome

A complex incapacitating multi-organ A complex incapacitating multi-organ system disorder. Fatigue, shortness of system disorder. Fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, bleeding gums and breath, joint pain, bleeding gums and lesions, headaches and neurological lesions, headaches and neurological problems, memory loss, kidney problems, memory loss, kidney dysfunction, bloody stools, flu-like dysfunction, bloody stools, flu-like symptoms, pneumonia, gynecological symptoms, pneumonia, gynecological infections in female soldiers, unsteady infections in female soldiers, unsteady gait, rashes and, ultimately, cancer and gait, rashes and, ultimately, cancer and premature death. premature death. Not a comprehensive list. Not a comprehensive list. Put simply: Put simply: DU trashes the bodyDU trashes the body. .

US VeteransUS Veterans

8-10 years after the war8-10 years after the war veterans of veterans of Desert Storm were still excreting DU in Desert Storm were still excreting DU in their urine, semen, and in their sweat.their urine, semen, and in their sweat.

This retention of DU poses serious This retention of DU poses serious health risks for a number of reasons: health risks for a number of reasons: firstly, because radiation, even low-firstly, because radiation, even low-level radiation, is cumulative. In fact, level radiation, is cumulative. In fact, the term "the term "low-levellow-level radiation" is a radiation" is a misnomer. misnomer.

Drs. Alim Yacoub, Jenan Drs. Alim Yacoub, Jenan

HassanHassan Dr. Dr. Alim YacoubAlim Yacoub, a British-educated trained , a British-educated trained

doctor and dean of the medical school at doctor and dean of the medical school at Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, and his Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, and his colleague, Dr. colleague, Dr. Jenan HassanJenan Hassan from the from the Women's and Children's Hospital in Basra, Women's and Children's Hospital in Basra, found that between 1990-2001 all types of found that between 1990-2001 all types of malignanciesmalignancies quadrupled. ( quadrupled. (x 4x 4))

During this same period the number of During this same period the number of birth birth defectsdefects increased increased x 6x 6. .

Moreover, the incidence of childhood Moreover, the incidence of childhood leukemia leukemia jumped from just 2 cases in 1990 to 41 in jumped from just 2 cases in 1990 to 41 in 2001, a shocking twenty-fold increase (2001, a shocking twenty-fold increase (x 20x 20))

Dr. Hari Sharma Dr. Hari Sharma

Although the Iraqi physicians lacked the Although the Iraqi physicians lacked the necessary scientific equipment to necessary scientific equipment to establish a firm link to inhaled or ingested establish a firm link to inhaled or ingested DU, Dr. Hari DU, Dr. Hari SharmaSharma, a , a CanadianCanadian radio- radio-chemist, later confirmed the link. chemist, later confirmed the link.

When Dr. Sharma examined tissue When Dr. Sharma examined tissue samples of 38 dead Iraqis from Basra samples of 38 dead Iraqis from Basra using a supersensitive instrument known using a supersensitive instrument known as a mass spectrometer, he found DU in as a mass spectrometer, he found DU in the lungs, thoracic lymph nodes and the lungs, thoracic lymph nodes and kidneys. kidneys.

ChildrenChildren

NewbornsNewborns

DU particles also cross the placenta into DU particles also cross the placenta into the unborn child, which is extremely the unborn child, which is extremely serious because the fetus is especially serious because the fetus is especially vulnerablevulnerable to both radiological and to both radiological and chemical toxicity. chemical toxicity.

No doubt, this explains the increased No doubt, this explains the increased level of birth abnormalities reported in level of birth abnormalities reported in the children of Gulf War vets, and the the children of Gulf War vets, and the even higher incidence in Iraq, where even higher incidence in Iraq, where mothers no longer ask, "Is it a boy, or a mothers no longer ask, "Is it a boy, or a girl?, but rather: "Is my baby normal?"girl?, but rather: "Is my baby normal?"

MidwivesMidwives

These mid-wives are purported to These mid-wives are purported to have said they no longer look have said they no longer look forward to births as.... "We don't forward to births as.... "We don't know what's going to come out." know what's going to come out."

ExamplesExamples

MeningomyeloceleMeningomyelocele

CancersCancers

Grotesque Skin Grotesque Skin DiseaseDisease

Jooma Khan, villager, from Laghman Jooma Khan, villager, from Laghman province, Afghanistan, March 2003province, Afghanistan, March 2003

““After the Americans destroyed our village and After the Americans destroyed our village and killed many of us, we also lost our houses and killed many of us, we also lost our houses and have nothing to eat. However, we would have have nothing to eat. However, we would have endured these miseries and even accepted them, endured these miseries and even accepted them, if the Americans had not sentenced us all to if the Americans had not sentenced us all to death. death.

When I saw my deformed grandson, I realized When I saw my deformed grandson, I realized that my hopes of the future have vanished for that my hopes of the future have vanished for good, different from the hopelessness of the good, different from the hopelessness of the Russian barbarism, even though at that time I Russian barbarism, even though at that time I lost my older son Shafiqullah. lost my older son Shafiqullah.

This time, however, I know we are part of the This time, however, I know we are part of the invisible genocideinvisible genocide brought on us by America, a brought on us by America, a silent death from which I know we will not silent death from which I know we will not escape."escape."

USA and soon in USA and soon in Canada?Canada? Post-Gulf War babies born to 251 Post-Gulf War babies born to 251

veterans, veterans, 67% 67% of the babies were of the babies were reported to have serious illnesses reported to have serious illnesses or serious birth defects, born or serious birth defects, born without eyes, ears, had missing without eyes, ears, had missing organs, fused fingers, thyroid or organs, fused fingers, thyroid or other malfunctionsother malfunctions

PhocomeliaPhocomelia

Thank you for caring!Thank you for caring!