Reply #53: Hi Spen, I heading off work in a couple of minutes

[MadHound]

So I don't have time to go into great detail here. I work at a nuke plant, and handle DU on a daily basis. Let me tell that in solid form, DU is relatively benign. A low level Alpha and Beta emitter, the radiation it gives off cannot penatrate your skin.

However, the trouble with DU over in Iraq, or in any military situations, is that the benign block of DU is turned into a fine, talcumn like powder that is easily inhaled or ingested. It is blown about the countryside and gets everywhere. Once a heavy metal emitter is in your system you have serious problems, both from radiation and heavy metal poisoning. It is also notoriously hard to get out of your system. And with a half life of hundreds of thousand of years, it is the gift that keeps on giving. Embryonic mutations are certainly a possiblity, along with serious respitory illnesses, radiation and heavy metal poisoning. And it is a cumulative problem also, the more you inhale/ingest, the sicker you get.

I would give you some more information friend, but it is time for me to go, and I have a lawn to mow, so perhaps I will pick this up later if I have time.