"Dangerously High Levels of Radiation Measured Around Baghdad"

London Express, Monday Sep 01, 2003 15:05:42 ET

Soldiers and civilians in Iraq face a health timebomb
after dangerously high levels of radiation were
measured around Baghdad. Levels between 1,000 and 1,900 times higher than
normal were recorded at four sites around the Iraqi
capital where depleted uranium (DU) munitions have
been used across wide areas.

Experts estimate that Britain and the US used 1,100 to
2,200 tons of armour-piercing shells made of DU during
attacks on Iraqi forces.That figure eclipses the 375 tons used in the 1991 Gulf
War. Unlike that largely desert-based conflict, most
of the rounds fired in March and April were in heavily
residential areas.

DU rounds are highly combustible and tiny particles of
the radioactive material are left on the battleground.

If inhaled the material can attack the body causing
cancers, chronic illness, long-term disabilities and
genetic birth defects -- none of which will be apparent
for at least five years.

Veterans of the first Gulf War believe that DU
exposure has played a role in leaving more than 5,000
of them chronically ill and almost 600 dead.

The Royal Society, Britain's leading scientific body,
described America's failure to confirm how much or
where they used DU rounds as an "appalling situation".

Professor Brian Spratt, chairman of the society's
working group on DU, said: "The Americans are really
giving us no information at all and think it is a
pretty appalling situation that they are not taking
this seriously at all.

"We really need someone like the UN Environment
Programme or the World Health Organisation to get into
Iraq and start testing civilians and soldiers for
uranium exposure."

Evidence of massive uranium radiation has emerged in
recent weeks. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center in Seattle analysed swabs from bullet holes in
Iraqi tanks and confirmed elevated radiation levels.

Last month Scott Peterson, of the respected Christian
Science Monitor, took Geiger counter readings at
several sites in Baghdad. Near the Republican Palace,
his radiation readings were the "hottest" in Iraq at
nearly 1,900 times background radiation levels.

Even the Ministry of Defence, which has consistently
refused to accept there are dangers involved in DU
exposure or that it has played role in Gulf War
illnesses is addressing the problem. Soldiers
returning from this year's conflict will be routinely
tested for uranium poisoning. Professor Malcolm
Hooper, who sits on two committees advising the
Government on Gulf health issues, said he is not
surprised by the radiation levels.

He said: "Really these things are dirty bombs. Exactly
the sort of device that President Bush and Prime
Minister Blair keep talking about being in the hands
of terrorists."