DU a health risk?

[StupidFOX]

Hey everyone... I'm pretty rattled.
No, I'm not worried about Democratic Underground, DU designateds "depleted uranium," and it's become quite popular with the Pentagon. From what I've gathered, its density makes it great anti-tank bullet material, and it's been used widely in the last 13 years. Here's what freaked me out:

http://www.bushflash.com/pl_lo.html (hope the link works - If it doesn't, go to www.bushflash.com and check animations. It's "poisonous legacy")

Are we really dumping our nuclear material in enemy nations? Are we allowing uranium to disolve into the atmosphere, water, and earth? Is DU to blame for horrid birth defects and increasing cancer rates?

It makes me sick to think about. Nuclear-waste bullets... and the governments of the world refuse to note the problem. Google "DU bullets", it's not fun.

Anybody know John Kerry's (or the Democrats' in general) stance on DU? As an environmentalist and HUMAN, I have to say this scares me more than any pollution or global warming issue I've seen so far.

[liberalhistorian]

1. I don't know Kerry's specific stance on this,

but he's always been a very strong environmentalist so I can't imagine him supporting anything like this.

[StupidFOX]

2. Thanks

I get the feeling lobbyists would be pretty effective against the use of DU, so maybe I should look into it and write some letters. Why can't we just take down tanks using conventional explosives?

[Massacure]

3. DU is less radioactive than normal uranium found naturally in the ground

However, it is a heavy metal and therefor its effects on people is similar to that of lead, mercury, and and other heavy metals. The military is phasing out lead bullets because of contamination but why they leaving DU bullets when it is the same effect as lead is beyond me.

The stuff is safe to touch however it is nasty if you ingest it. The stuff definately should be banned. Tungsten would be a good replacement for DU.