[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

It is dangerous short term at least that is why not only did some US Gulf War vets and their kids have problems so did Bedouins that live in the same region who make a living of off gathering scrap metals.Every legitimate Gulf War sickness case the person either was inside or very near a destroyed vehicle or had camped in a area that was later found to have had
spent DU rounds(from A-10 GAU-8s) in the ground in the same area.

When a DU round hits a tank it send debris and dust all inside and around the tank this is what is bad for you.What they did after 1991 was tell US troops not to mess with the DU rounds or mess with things that had been hit by them or build an encampment over any area suspected to have had DU rounds land.I know this because I had buddies in the USAF that where AMMO guys and the ones that joined pre 1991 had never been warned about DU rounds and of course where pissed to learn after years of handling them that they where now hazardous.I do not think they are as harmful inert it is after they are fired that they become a risk.The DOD became much more restrictive in its use after 1991 but their carelessness has given ammo to many people.

DU is an issue because it is used it anti tank munitions there is also a sabot dart round fired by MBT guns that is made of DU.It is a public relations issue they need the DU to destroy tanks but they dont want to fully admit its risks so they choose to gray area it.

DU is a term that military public relations Officers dread to hear in fact it is most times one of those "no comment" topics.

I am a supporter of a military using the weapons that it needs to perform its mission but they should have been more open about DU from the start rather than not doing so and then an issue occurring the DOD took a lax stance pre 1991 and it cost them.

DU works so well for armor penetration because it is one of the most dense elements on earth it is made form spent Uranium fuel rods.
Never heard of it use on aircraft though and not sure why one would want it on a aircraft for structural purposes.OK it is used as trim weight in some aircraft.

^ Good post