Commentary on Army DU Medical Management Policy
by Dr. Doug Rokke, Ph.D.
Major (retired), USAR
former 3rd U.S. Army Gulf War 1 DU team health physicist
former U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Project director
see http://www.traprockpeace.org/du_medmgmt_otsg.pdf
Depleted uranium munitions are used during combat because they are extremely effective. However, in winning these battles through use of uranium munitions we have contaminated air, water, and soil. Consequently, children, women, and men have inhaled, ingested, or got wounds contaminated with uranium.
Uranium is a heavy metal and radioactive poison. The toxicity is not debatable as the Director of the U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute stated in a
congressionally mandated report that "No available technology can significantly change the inherent chemical and radiological toxicity of DU.
These are intrinsic properties of uranium " (Health and Environmental
Consequences of Depleted Uranium Use in the U.S. Army: Technical Report,
AEPI, June 1995).
The primary U.S. Army training manual: STP 21-1-SMCT: Soldiers Manual of
Common Tasks states "NOTE: (Depleted uranium) Contamination will make food
and water unsafe for consumption." [Task number: 031-503-1017 "RESPOND TO DEPLETED URANIUM/LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (DULLRAM) HAZARDS"].
Although, existing U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) directives require that
prompt and effective medical care be provided to all exposed individuals
(Medical Management of Unusual Depleted Uranium Casualties, DOD, 10/14/93)
and the thorough clean up of dispersed radioactive contamination (AR 700-48:
"Management of Equipment Contaminated With Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities"); United States, British, and Australian officials refuse to comply with these directives.
RECENT EVENTS.
The U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. General James B. Peake issued a memorandum dated April 29, 2004 that depleted uranium bioassays will be administered to all individuals with Level 1 and Level 2 exposures and that bioassays would be provided upon request for all Level 3 exposures.
Level 1 is defined as: "Personnel who were in, on, or near combat vehicles at the time they were struck by depleted uranium rounds (to include wounded), or who entered immediately after to attempt rescue."
Level 2 is defined as: "Personnel who rountinely entered depletd uranium damaged vehicles as part of their military occupation or who fought fires
involving depletd uranium munitions."
Level 3 is defined as: "Personnel involved in al other exposures incidental in nature, e.g. driving by a vehicle struck by deplted uranium". (SECDEF 3/30/03: Policy for the Operation Iraqi Freedom Depleted Uranium (DU) Medical Management: http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil/du_library/pdfs/policy_oif_053003.pdf
However this directive still ignores exposures incurred while within, near, or after entering and DU destroyed structure or on contaminated terrain. I must also ask if the same medical test will be provided to all U.S. coalition military personnel and to al Iraqi military and civilians who were exposed? Will medical care also be provided to all individuals who have been exposed and denied a radiobioasay and relevant medical care all exposed individuals where ever depleted uranium (uranium) munitions were manufactured, tested, and/or used in combat?The United States, England, and Australia have recently used extensive amounts of weapons made from uranium, commonly called depleted uranium in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans. Medical evidence and especially the birth defects in children born to parents in areas with DU contamination is an issue of significant concern. Depleted uranium (uranium 238) along with other contaminates of war have been implicated and medical evidence supports the fact that uranium contamination exposure results in adverse health effects.
Today; after the willful use of uranium munitions during Gulf War 1, during
Balkans combat, in Afghanistan, and now during Gulf War 2; warriors and
non-combatants are exhibiting serious adverse health effects from exposure
to depleted uranium munitions contamination, conventional weapons residue, and
released toxic industrial chemicals.
However, even though medical evidence exists to prove adverse health effects
United States, British, Australian, Canadian, and NATO officials continue to state specifically that there are no known adverse health effects in individuals who were exposed to uranium and other contamination. That is a willful lie as verified by actual medical records of thousands of individuals affected by war created contamination. However, despite their formal stance the British Ministry of Defence recently have acknowledged that British serviceman who serve in Iraq may be exposed to depleted uranium contamination and can obtain medical testing upon re-deployment.
http://www.traprockpeace.org/du_mod_warning_cards.html
[Britsh soldiers in Iraq are issued warning cards on DU that advises them they may have been exposed to DU and advising them that they may request testing. See Sunday Herald story on warning cards - "MoD ‘lied’ over depleted uranium" http://www.sundayherald.com/40306 ]
For more information, please visit the Traprock Peace Center http://www.traprockpeace.org or for an external link, please visit the Traprock Peace Center in our Links section.
Please also see:
Depleted Uranium: The Toxic Killer
The Bush Administration knows about the health and environmental consequences of using Depleted Uranium but it doesn’t care.
By Nick Youther
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=720
DEPLETED URANIUM: THE WAR CRIME THAT HAS NO END, by Paul Rockwell
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1462&blz=1
by Dr. Doug Rokke, Ph.D.
Major (retired), USAR
former 3rd U.S. Army Gulf War 1 DU team health physicist
former U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Project director
see http://www.traprockpeace.org/du_medmgmt_otsg.pdf
Depleted uranium munitions are used during combat because they are extremely effective. However, in winning these battles through use of uranium munitions we have contaminated air, water, and soil. Consequently, children, women, and men have inhaled, ingested, or got wounds contaminated with uranium.
Uranium is a heavy metal and radioactive poison. The toxicity is not debatable as the Director of the U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute stated in a
congressionally mandated report that "No available technology can significantly change the inherent chemical and radiological toxicity of DU.
These are intrinsic properties of uranium " (Health and Environmental
Consequences of Depleted Uranium Use in the U.S. Army: Technical Report,
AEPI, June 1995).
The primary U.S. Army training manual: STP 21-1-SMCT: Soldiers Manual of
Common Tasks states "NOTE: (Depleted uranium) Contamination will make food
and water unsafe for consumption." [Task number: 031-503-1017 "RESPOND TO DEPLETED URANIUM/LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (DULLRAM) HAZARDS"].
Although, existing U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) directives require that
prompt and effective medical care be provided to all exposed individuals
(Medical Management of Unusual Depleted Uranium Casualties, DOD, 10/14/93)
and the thorough clean up of dispersed radioactive contamination (AR 700-48:
"Management of Equipment Contaminated With Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities"); United States, British, and Australian officials refuse to comply with these directives.
RECENT EVENTS.
The U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. General James B. Peake issued a memorandum dated April 29, 2004 that depleted uranium bioassays will be administered to all individuals with Level 1 and Level 2 exposures and that bioassays would be provided upon request for all Level 3 exposures.
Level 1 is defined as: "Personnel who were in, on, or near combat vehicles at the time they were struck by depleted uranium rounds (to include wounded), or who entered immediately after to attempt rescue."
Level 2 is defined as: "Personnel who rountinely entered depletd uranium damaged vehicles as part of their military occupation or who fought fires
involving depletd uranium munitions."
Level 3 is defined as: "Personnel involved in al other exposures incidental in nature, e.g. driving by a vehicle struck by deplted uranium". (SECDEF 3/30/03: Policy for the Operation Iraqi Freedom Depleted Uranium (DU) Medical Management: http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil/du_library/pdfs/policy_oif_053003.pdf
However this directive still ignores exposures incurred while within, near, or after entering and DU destroyed structure or on contaminated terrain. I must also ask if the same medical test will be provided to all U.S. coalition military personnel and to al Iraqi military and civilians who were exposed? Will medical care also be provided to all individuals who have been exposed and denied a radiobioasay and relevant medical care all exposed individuals where ever depleted uranium (uranium) munitions were manufactured, tested, and/or used in combat?The United States, England, and Australia have recently used extensive amounts of weapons made from uranium, commonly called depleted uranium in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans. Medical evidence and especially the birth defects in children born to parents in areas with DU contamination is an issue of significant concern. Depleted uranium (uranium 238) along with other contaminates of war have been implicated and medical evidence supports the fact that uranium contamination exposure results in adverse health effects.
Today; after the willful use of uranium munitions during Gulf War 1, during
Balkans combat, in Afghanistan, and now during Gulf War 2; warriors and
non-combatants are exhibiting serious adverse health effects from exposure
to depleted uranium munitions contamination, conventional weapons residue, and
released toxic industrial chemicals.
However, even though medical evidence exists to prove adverse health effects
United States, British, Australian, Canadian, and NATO officials continue to state specifically that there are no known adverse health effects in individuals who were exposed to uranium and other contamination. That is a willful lie as verified by actual medical records of thousands of individuals affected by war created contamination. However, despite their formal stance the British Ministry of Defence recently have acknowledged that British serviceman who serve in Iraq may be exposed to depleted uranium contamination and can obtain medical testing upon re-deployment.
http://www.traprockpeace.org/du_mod_warning_cards.html
[Britsh soldiers in Iraq are issued warning cards on DU that advises them they may have been exposed to DU and advising them that they may request testing. See Sunday Herald story on warning cards - "MoD ‘lied’ over depleted uranium" http://www.sundayherald.com/40306 ]
For more information, please visit the Traprock Peace Center http://www.traprockpeace.org or for an external link, please visit the Traprock Peace Center in our Links section.
Please also see:
Depleted Uranium: The Toxic Killer
The Bush Administration knows about the health and environmental consequences of using Depleted Uranium but it doesn’t care.
By Nick Youther
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=720
DEPLETED URANIUM: THE WAR CRIME THAT HAS NO END, by Paul Rockwell
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1462&blz=1