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Exclusive: US to send depleted-uranium munitions to Ukraine (www.reuters.com)

submitted 1 year ago by NightOwl@lemm.ee to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

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The use of depleted uranium munitions has been fiercely debated, with opponents like the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects.

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[-] SmoothOperator@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

According to the article, studies in places where the ammunition has been used "indicated that the existence of depleted uranium residues dispersed in the environment does not pose a radiological hazard to the population of the affected regions."

What effect does it have on the grain?

[-] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch -2 points 1 year ago

And an environmental hazard, since Uranium is poisonous?

[-] Womble@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Ok, but the alternative is lead or tungsten, both of which are similarly toxic. So unless you are suggesting Ukraine only fights with artisanaly grown wooden weapons I'm not sure what point you're making.

[-] uberkalden@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Did you completely ignore what he referenced in the article?

[-] AnyOldName3@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

As well as being very mildly radioactive, depleted uranium is still a heavy metal, so can poison you in a similar way to lead. IIRC, that's the most dangerous aspect of the material, and isn't mentioned by the article.