BBC Reports
Depleted Uranium munitions in Afghanistan
Dramatic Rise Of Birth Deformities
BBC Radio on March 26, 2009 broadcasted an interesting
report on the use Depleted Uranium munitions in
Afghanistan.
During the last 2 years hospitals in Afghanistan reported
a dramatic 100% rise of birth deformities.
Doctors in Afghanistan say rates of some health
problems affecting children have doubled in the last two
years.
Some scientists say the rise is linked to use of weapons
containing depleted uranium (DU) by the US-led coalition
that invaded the country in 2001.
A Canadian research group found very high levels of
uranium in Afghans during tests just after the invasion.
The military is aware of DU's harmful effects on the
human genetic code. A 2001 study of DU's effect on DNA
done by Dr. Alexandra C. Miller for the Armed Forces
Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, Md.,
indicates that DU's chemical instability causes 1 million
times more genetic damage than would be expected from its
radiation effect alone.
Studies have shown that inhaled nano-particles are far
more toxic than micro-sized particles of the same basic
chemical composition. British toxicopathologist Vyvyan
Howard has reported that the increased toxicity of the
nano-particle is due to its size.
