http://disappearednews.com/2010/01/army-nuclear-regulatory-commission.htmlFriday, January 15, 2010Army, Nuclear Regulatory Commission willing to shove 299 pounds of depleted uranium down Hawaii throats and lungsby Larry GellerThe Army on Nov. 6, 2008, applied before the NRC for a license to possess and manage depleted uranium at nine -military installations, including Pohakuloa and Oahu's Schofield Barracks.Jim Albertini, Cory Harden, Isaac Harp and Luwella Leonardi are opposing the license. They contend that the weak radioactive material left over after enriched uranium is removed is toxic and harmful to humans when vaporized and inhaled. [Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Testimony heard on DU request, 1/14/2010)]Although the videoconference hearing did not seem to go the way Big Island and Oahu advocates may have hoped, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald report, it did set down some scary facts.The hearing was in Maryland with videoconference link to UH Hilo. The complete story is in the article, but I found this portion particularly of concern:The judges also asked tough questions of Lt. Col. Kent Herring of the Army Environmental Litigation Division. Herring said the 714 rounds [shipped to Hawaii] represented 299 pounds of depleted uranium, assuming 6.7 ounces per round.Judge Anthony J. Baratta, who holds a doctorate in nuclear physics, told Herring that the 714 rounds "is probably the minimum amount you can substantiate" and said the upper limit was likely 2,120 rounds.So there is someplace between 299 and 888 pounds of depleted uranium on the Big Island, lying loose in the environment.That stuff needs to be taken away.Snipped from the Wikipedia :Multiple studies using cultured cells and laboratory rodents suggest the possibility of leukemogenic, genetic, reproductive, and neurological effects from chronic exposure. A 2005 epidemiology review concluded: "In aggregate the human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in offspring of persons exposed to DU." The World Health Organization states that no consistent risk of reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects have been reported in humans. However, the objectivity of this report has been called into question.More (you can read the entire article for a complete rundown):Normal functioning of the kidney, brain, liver, heart, and numerous other systems can be affected by uranium exposure, because in addition to being weakly radioactive, uranium is a toxic metal. The chemical toxicity of depleted uranium is about a million times greater in vivo than its radiological hazard. Health effects of DU are determined by factors such as the extent of exposure and whether it was internal or external. Three main pathways exist by which internalization of uranium may occur: inhalation, ingestion, and embedded fragments or shrapnel contamination. Properties such as phase (e.g. particulate or gaseous), oxidation state (e.g. metallic or ceramic), and the solubility of uranium and its compounds influence their absorption, distribution, translocation, elimination and the resulting toxicity. For example, metallic uranium is relatively non-toxic compared to hexavalent uranium(VI) uranyl compounds such as uranium trioxide.The Wikipedia article also described studies that claimed to show no toxic effects. I say “claimed to show” because the studies were conducted by defense-connected agencies. Do I trust them? Not for a minute. Again, it is best to refer to the complete article.In any case, why should anyone in Hawaii want to tolerate the dispersal of 299 or 888 pounds of DU in the environment? Let’s see what decision is handed down next month.
http://disappearednews.com/2010/01/army-nuclear-regulatory-commission.htmlFriday, January 15, 2010Army, Nuclear Regulatory Commission willing to shove 299 pounds of depleted uranium down Hawaii throats and lungsby Larry GellerThe Army on Nov. 6, 2008, applied before the NRC for a license to possess and manage depleted uranium at nine -military installations, including Pohakuloa and Oahu's Schofield Barracks.Jim Albertini, Cory Harden, Isaac Harp and Luwella Leonardi are opposing the license. They contend that the weak radioactive material left over after enriched uranium is removed is toxic and harmful to humans when vaporized and inhaled. [Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Testimony heard on DU request, 1/14/2010)]Although the videoconference hearing did not seem to go the way Big Island and Oahu advocates may have hoped, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald report, it did set down some scary facts.The hearing was in Maryland with videoconference link to UH Hilo. The complete story is in the article, but I found this portion particularly of concern:The judges also asked tough questions of Lt. Col. Kent Herring of the Army Environmental Litigation Division. Herring said the 714 rounds [shipped to Hawaii] represented 299 pounds of depleted uranium, assuming 6.7 ounces per round.Judge Anthony J. Baratta, who holds a doctorate in nuclear physics, told Herring that the 714 rounds "is probably the minimum amount you can substantiate" and said the upper limit was likely 2,120 rounds.So there is someplace between 299 and 888 pounds of depleted uranium on the Big Island, lying loose in the environment.That stuff needs to be taken away.Snipped from the Wikipedia :Multiple studies using cultured cells and laboratory rodents suggest the possibility of leukemogenic, genetic, reproductive, and neurological effects from chronic exposure. A 2005 epidemiology review concluded: "In aggregate the human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in offspring of persons exposed to DU." The World Health Organization states that no consistent risk of reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects have been reported in humans. However, the objectivity of this report has been called into question.More (you can read the entire article for a complete rundown):Normal functioning of the kidney, brain, liver, heart, and numerous other systems can be affected by uranium exposure, because in addition to being weakly radioactive, uranium is a toxic metal. The chemical toxicity of depleted uranium is about a million times greater in vivo than its radiological hazard. Health effects of DU are determined by factors such as the extent of exposure and whether it was internal or external. Three main pathways exist by which internalization of uranium may occur: inhalation, ingestion, and embedded fragments or shrapnel contamination. Properties such as phase (e.g. particulate or gaseous), oxidation state (e.g. metallic or ceramic), and the solubility of uranium and its compounds influence their absorption, distribution, translocation, elimination and the resulting toxicity. For example, metallic uranium is relatively non-toxic compared to hexavalent uranium(VI) uranyl compounds such as uranium trioxide.The Wikipedia article also described studies that claimed to show no toxic effects. I say “claimed to show” because the studies were conducted by defense-connected agencies. Do I trust them? Not for a minute. Again, it is best to refer to the complete article.In any case, why should anyone in Hawaii want to tolerate the dispersal of 299 or 888 pounds of DU in the environment? Let’s see what decision is handed down next month.
Comments
You mean Are… seriously, anyway… it’s not healthy at all.– that is clear, how it is unhealthy and why the efects tend to be unhealthy are less clear.