Ignorant
This AP story about the possible side effects of using depleted uranium in military ammunition constantly makes the reader believe that it's the metal's radioactivity that is the biggest concern. Here are some samples:
As for depleted uranium being 60 percent as radioactive as natural uranium, nowhere do they mention that you can quite safely hold a chunk of natural uranium ore in your hand with no ill effects. Natural uranium has to be refined to produce the real dangerous stuff for bombs and reactors.
The danger from depleted uranium comes from it being a heavy metal that may be toxic to the human body. When a DU projective hits something, it is pulverized (and burned I believe) into a fine dust that is easily inhaled or mixed into soil. Studies into the issue have shown only mixed results.
Depleted uranium may be a health risk, but it doesn't do the issue scientific justice to taint it with ignorant terminology meant to scare rather than educate.
It also leaves behind a fine radioactive dust with a half-life of 4.5 billion years.The fact that it has a half-life of 4.5 billion years means that it is less dangerous, not more. Radioactivity is produced by the the decay of unstable atoms into other elements. The most dangerouns radioactive substances decay relatively quickly and therefore have rather shorter half-lifes.
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Depleted uranium is the garbage left from producing enriched uranium for nuclear weapons and energy plants. It is 60 percent as radioactive as natural uranium.
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Inhaled, it can lodge in the lungs. As with imbedded shrapnel, this is doubly dangerous — not only are the particles themselves physically destructive, they emit radiation.
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Depleted uranium can also contaminate soil and water, and coat buildings with radioactive dust, which can by carried by wind and sandstorms.
As for depleted uranium being 60 percent as radioactive as natural uranium, nowhere do they mention that you can quite safely hold a chunk of natural uranium ore in your hand with no ill effects. Natural uranium has to be refined to produce the real dangerous stuff for bombs and reactors.
The danger from depleted uranium comes from it being a heavy metal that may be toxic to the human body. When a DU projective hits something, it is pulverized (and burned I believe) into a fine dust that is easily inhaled or mixed into soil. Studies into the issue have shown only mixed results.
Depleted uranium may be a health risk, but it doesn't do the issue scientific justice to taint it with ignorant terminology meant to scare rather than educate.
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