UK radiation jump blamed on Iraq shells - Sunday Times - Times Online

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Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:03:47 -0800

[Zepps_News] UK radiation jump blamed on Iraq shells - Sunday

Times - Times Online

 

 

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2047373,00.html

 

 

 

UK radiation jump blamed on Iraq shells

Mark Gould and Jon Ungoed-Thomas

 

 

RADIATION detectors in Britain recorded a fourfold increase in uranium

levels in the atmosphere after the " shock and awe " bombing campaign

against Iraq, according to a report.

 

Environmental scientists who uncovered the figures through freedom of

information laws say it is evidence that depleted uranium from the

shells was carried by wind currents to Britain.

 

Government officials, however, say the sharp rise in uranium detected

by radiation monitors in Berkshire was a coincidence and probably came

from local sources.

 

The results from testing stations at the Atomic Weapons Establishment

(AWE) in Aldermaston and four other stations within a 10-mile radius

were obtained by Chris Busby, of Liverpool University's department of

human anatomy and cell biology.

 

Each detector recorded a significant rise in uranium levels during the

Gulf war bombing campaign in March 2003. The reading from a park in

Reading was high enough for the Environment Agency to be alerted.

 

Busby, who has advised the government on radiation and is a founder of

Green Audit, the environmental consultancy, believes " uranium

aerosols " from Iraq were widely dispersed in the atmosphere and blown

across Europe.

 

" This research shows that rather than remaining near the target as

claimed by the military, depleted uranium weapons contaminate both

locals and whole populations hundreds to thousands of miles away, " he

said.

 

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) countered that it was " unfeasible "

depleted uranium could have travelled so far. Radiation experts also

said that other environmental sources were more likely to blame.

 

The " shock and awe " campaign was one of the most devastating assaults

in modern warfare. In the first 24-hour period more than 1,500 bombs

and missiles were dropped on Baghdad.

 

During the conflict A10 " tankbuster " planes — which use munitions

containing depleted uranium — fired 300,000 rounds. The substance —

dubbed a " silver bullet " because of its ability to pierce heavy tank

armour — is controversial because of its potential effect on human

health. Critics say it is chemically toxic and can cause cancer, and

Iraqi doctors reported a marked rise in cancer cases after it was used

in the first Gulf conflict.

 

The American and British governments say depleted uranium is

relatively harmless, however. The Royal Society, the UK's academy of

science, has also said the risk from depleted uranium is " very low "

for soldiers and people in a conflict zone.

 

Busby's report shows that within nine days of the start of the Iraq

war on March 19, 2003, higher levels of uranium were picked up on five

sites in Berkshire. On two occasions, levels exceeded the threshold at

which the Environment Agency must be informed, though within safety

limits. The report says weather conditions over the war period showed

a consistent flow of air from Iraq northwards.

 

Brian Spratt, who chaired the Royal Society's report, cast doubt on

depleted uranium as a source but said it could have come from natural

uranium in the massive amounts of soil kicked up by shock and awe.

 

Other experts said local environmental sources, such as a power

station, were more likely at fault. The Environment Agency said

detectors at other sites did not record a similar increase, which

suggested a local source.

 

A MoD spokesman said the uranium was of a " natural origin " and there

was no evidence that depleted uranium had reached Britain from Iraq.

 

--

" Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government

talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court

order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about

chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order

before we do so "

-George W. Bush, April 20, 2004

 

 

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