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UK radiation jump blamed on Iraq shells
By Mark Gould and Jon Ungoed-Thomas
02/19/06 "Sunday
Times" -- -- RADIATION detectors in Britain
recorded a fourfold increase in uranium levels in the atmosphere
after the “shock and awe” bombing campaign against Iraq,
according to a report.
Environmental scientists who uncovered the figures through
freedom of information laws say it is evidence that depleted
uranium from the shells was carried by wind currents to Britain.
Government officials, however, say the sharp rise in uranium
detected by radiation monitors in Berkshire was a coincidence
and probably came from local sources.
The results from testing stations at the Atomic Weapons
Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston and four other stations
within a 10-mile radius were obtained by Chris Busby, of
Liverpool University’s department of human anatomy and cell
biology.
Each detector recorded a significant rise in uranium levels
during the Gulf war bombing campaign in March 2003. The reading
from a park in Reading was high enough for the Environment
Agency to be alerted.
Busby, who has advised the government on radiation and is a
founder of Green Audit, the environmental consultancy, believes
“uranium aerosols” from Iraq were widely dispersed in the
atmosphere and blown across Europe.
“This research shows that rather than remaining near the target
as claimed by the military, depleted uranium weapons contaminate
both locals and whole populations hundreds to thousands of miles
away,” he said.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) countered that it was “unfeasible”
depleted uranium could have travelled so far. Radiation experts
also said that other environmental sources were more likely to
blame.
The “shock and awe” campaign was one of the most devastating
assaults in modern warfare. In the first 24-hour period more
than 1,500 bombs and missiles were dropped on Baghdad.
During the conflict A10 “tankbuster” planes — which use
munitions containing depleted uranium — fired 300,000 rounds.
The substance — dubbed a “silver bullet” because of its ability
to pierce heavy tank armour — is controversial because of its
potential effect on human health. Critics say it is chemically
toxic and can cause cancer, and Iraqi doctors reported a marked
rise in cancer cases after it was used in the first Gulf
conflict.
The American and British governments say depleted uranium is
relatively harmless, however. The Royal Society, the UK’s
academy of science, has also said the risk from depleted uranium
is “very low” for soldiers and people in a conflict zone.
Busby’s report shows that within nine days of the start of the
Iraq war on March 19, 2003, higher levels of uranium were picked
up on five sites in Berkshire. On two occasions, levels exceeded
the threshold at which the Environment Agency must be informed,
though within safety limits. The report says weather conditions
over the war period showed a consistent flow of air from Iraq
northwards.
Brian Spratt, who chaired the Royal Society’s report, cast doubt
on depleted uranium as a source but said it could have come from
natural uranium in the massive amounts of soil kicked up by
shock and awe.
Other experts said local environmental sources, such as a power
station, were more likely at fault. The Environment Agency said
detectors at other sites did not record a similar increase,
which suggested a local source.
A MoD spokesman said the uranium was of a “natural origin” and
there was no evidence that depleted uranium had reached Britain
from Iraq.
Copyright 2006 Times Newspapers Ltd.
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