kyleb said:
If anything is an emotional term in there it is the word "don't." http://www.usafp.org/PDA-Files/Databases/Radiological-handbook-tagged.pdf
With enough presure and heat, anything will burn. So how about that NiCad disposal method, yes or no?
From your own source:
"Depleted uranium munitions on the battlefield do not cause a significant radiation hazard, although if vaporized and inhaled, they do pose the risk of heavy-metal toxicity to the kidneys.[/color] Materials such as industrial radiography units, damaged medical radiotherapy units, and old reactor fuel rods can be responsible for significant local radiation hazards."
If being the operative word. And look what sources they mentioned.
"DEPLETED URANIUM Depleted uranium (DU) is neither a radiological nor chemical threat. It is not aweapon of mass destruction. It is contained in this manual for medical treatment issues. DU is defined as uranium metal in which the concentration of uranium-235 has been reduced from the 0.7% that occurs naturally to a value less than 0.2%. DU is a heavy, silverywhite metal, a little softer than steel, ductile, and slightly paramagnetic. In air, DU develops a layer of oxide that gives it a dull black color.[/color] "
Hmmm, not a radiological threat.
"DU is useful in kinetic-energy penetrator munitions as it is also pyrophoric and literally ignites and sharpens under the extreme pressures and temperatures generated by impact.[/color] (The fact that tungsten penetrators do not sharpen on impact—but in fact mushroom—is one reason they are less effective for overcoming armor.) As the penetrator enters the crew compartment of the target vehicle, it brings with it a spray of molten metal as well as shards of both penetrator and vehicle armor[/color] (spall), any of which can cause secondary explosions in stored ammunition."
It melts, it doesn't boil--huge difference. Vaporization is converting a liquid or metal into a gas. DU essentially shears as it penetrates until it completely pierces armor. It melts though it doesn't "vaporize". Read above: shards of penetrator as well as molten metal. The "secondary" effects pose more of a risk than those posed by DU. Toxins from burning plastic and artilary propelents are more dangerous in the short and long term.
"After such a penetration, the interior of the struck vehicle will be contaminated with DU dust and fragments and with other materials generated from armor and burning interior components.[/color] Consequently, casualties may exhibit burns derived from the initial penetration as well as from secondary fires. They also may have been wounded by and retain fragments of DU and other metals. Inhalation injury may occur from any of the compounds generated from metals, plastics, and components fused during the fire and explosion. "
Seems like a rather localized event. Inside of an armored vehicle and all.
"Radiation from DU DU emits alpha, beta, and weak gamma radiation. Due to the metal’s high density, much of the radiation never reaches the surface of the metal. It is thus “self-shielding.”[/color] Uranium-238, thorium-234, and protactinium-234 will be the most abundant isotopes present in a DU-ammunition round and its fragments. "
"Internalized DU Internalization of DU through inhalation of particles in dust and smoke, ingestion of particles, or wound contamination present potential radiological and toxicological risks.[/color] Single exposures of 1 to 3 μg of uranium per gram of kidney can cause irreparable damage to the kidneys. Skeletal and renal deposition of uranium occurs from implanted DU fragments. The toxic level for long-term chronic exposure to internal uranium metal is unknown, but no renal damage has been documented to date in test models or Gulf War casualties. The heavy-metal hazards are probably more significant than the radiological hazards. For insoluble compounds, the ingestion hazards are minimal because most of the uranium will be passed through the gastrointestinal tract unchanged. This may not be the case with inhaled DU, as heavy metal may be its primary damaging modality.[/color] The normally issued chemical protective mask will provide excellent protection against both inhalation and ingestion of DU particles. "
Goes back to DU is worse as a chemical than as a radioactive material. Kidney damage is a result of heavy metal poisoning. Nickel, copper, and lead will do the same thing BTW.
"BIOLOGICAL DOSIMETRY Physical dosimeters may misrepresent the actual radiation dose and may not be available in a combat or accident irradiation incident. It is important to assess the biological response to an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation in order to predict the medical consequences. The absorbed dose and the fraction of the body exposed should be determined with the highest degree of accuracy available. General Differences of 10% in absorbed dose can produce clearly observable variations in biological response. Hematopoietic recovery in heavily irradiated areas of the body will be possible if a sufficient number of stem cells survive in unirradiated or mildly irradiated portions of the hematopoietic system. Knowledge of the heterogeneity of the absorbed dose is particularly important with respect to medical treatment decisions for patients exhibiting radiation-induced bone-marrow syndrome. Cytokine therapy will stimulate proliferation of spared stem cells, but in cases of whole-body stem-cell sterility, bonemarrow transplant may become necessary. A crude estimate of absorbed dose can be obtained from the clinical presentation and assessment of the response of actively proliferating cell systems to radiation. Uncertainties in dose estimates arise largely from the high variability between individuals and other factors such as infection. Generally, the sensitivity of these bioindicators is poor, and given the transient nature of the signs and symptoms in sublethal doses, their clinical usefulness is limited. Biological dosimetry is recommended to support medical treatment decisions. Reliable biodosimetry is indicated to validate lowdose exposures in occupational radioprotection cases. The analysis of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes is widely used to assess radiation dose. Even in partial-body exposures, chromosome damage is an excellent indicator of the absorbed dose. Many types of chromosomal aberrations may appear in lymphocytes following exposure to radiation. Dicentrics (chromosomes with two centromeres) are biomarkers for ionizing radiation exposure. The incidence of dicentrics in blood lymphocytes for the general population is 1 in 1 x 103 metaphases. Human T-lymphocytes have a long half-life, and a small proportion of them survives for decades. The frequency of dicentrics following exposure remains fairly stable up to a few weeks. After acute partial-body exposure, the irradiated lymphocytes rapidly mix with unirradiated blood, and equilibrium is reached within 24 hours. "
Not specifically about DU but rather exposure to radiation (see above sources).
"DEPLETED URANIUM Depleted uranium (DU) emits limited alpha, beta, and some gamma radiation. DU does not cause radiation threat.[/color] It is found in armor-piercing munitions, armor, and aircraft counterweights. It is readily detectable with a typical end-window G-M (Geiger-Mueller) counter. Inhaled uranium compounds may be metabolized and result in urinary excretion. Inhalation of DU oxides may occur during tank fires or by entering destroyed armored vehicles without a protective mask. Absorption will be determined by the chemical state of the uranium. Soluble salts are readily absorbed; the metal is not. DU fragments in wounds become encapsulated and are gradually metabolized, resulting in whole-body distribution, particularly to bone and kidney. In laboratory tests, DU does cross the placenta. No renal toxicity has been documented to date. TREATMENT: Sodium bicarbonate makes the uranyl ion less nephrotoxic. Tubular diuretics may be beneficial. DU fragments in wounds should be removed whenever possible. Extensive surgery solely to removeDUfragments isNOTindicated. All fragments greater than 1 cm in diameter should be removed when the procedure is practical. Laboratory evaluation should include urinalysis, 24-hour urine for uranium bioassay, serum BUN, creatinine, beta-2-microglobulin, creatinine clearance, and liver function studies. "
So bad it can wait to be removed when practivcle.
Like any heavy metal DU attacks the kidneys and bones. Soft tissue is destroyed by radiation. Gonads, eyes, bladder are targets for radiation, not kidnets and bones. DU is bad because it is a heavy metal--it's no worse then lead or the other heavy metals that have been mentioned.
) - but misleading and scaremongering (and meaningless, and, well, kinda lame) is enough.