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Originally posted by spangledbanner
Can the US win a new arms race with if the 'fiscal cliff' is not avoided? The automatic military cuts might put National Security at risk. Maybe the should be more money put in to missile defence.
Originally posted by ownbestenemy
reply to post by pheonix358
And science will not agree with you. What is your point?
Depleted uranium is not classified as a dangerous substance radiologically, though it is a potential hazard in large quantities, beyond what could conceivably be breathed. Its emissions are very low, since the half-life of U-238 is the same as the age of the Earth (4.5 billion years). There are no reputable reports of cancer or other negative health effects from radiation exposure to ingested or inhaled natural or depleted uranium, despite much study.
DU is clearly dangerous for military targets, but for anyone else – even in a war zone – there is little hazard. Ingestion or inhalation of uranium oxide dust resulting from the impact of DU munitions on their targets is the main possible exposure route.
So unless Iraqis are ingesting spent rounds, it is highly unlikely that they are affected by at DU round or rounds. I still hold my ground of not condoning the use though.