HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
http://www.southam.com/ottawacitizen/newsnow/cpfs/world/020717/w071769.html The Canadian Press July 18, 2002 Depleted uranium detected at Kandahar airfield, not likely dangerous says experts NAHLAH AYED KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - An environmental survey has detected possible depleted uranium at the Kandahar airfield where Canadian soldiers have been stationed, but it's unlikely to pose a health risk, experts say. A recent U.S. survey and an earlier Canadian assessment of the environment here also discovered that asbestos is present on the base, where thousands of anti-terrorist coalition soldiers have lived for the past several months. The two surveys of the environment on this southern Afghan airbase also included a look at elevated noise levels, dust, and the effects of smoke from burning garbage on the air quality. The American team identified several small pieces of "an unknown metal substance suspected to be DU (depleted uranium)" but has yet to be confirmed by a laboratory. The substance was found in the remains of a burnt out aircraft away from living areas, said a spokeswoman for the team. "These pieces emitted a small radiation signature, which would have posed no threat to human health," said Maj. Annette Hildabrand. "Regardless, these pieces were collected and removed as a precautionary measure. The radiation readings returned to background levels immediately after removal. Therefore, no known radioactive material exists at Kandahar airfield." The Canadian team did not make a similar finding of depleted uranium, according to a representative in Ottawa. Depleted uranium is a byproduct of uranium and is about 40 per cent as radioactive. Because it is extremely dense, it is used on the tips of ammunition to help it pierce armoured vehicles. It can also be used in solid form to balance an aircraft. Because it is a heavy metal, it can pose health risks both as a chemical poison and a radiation hazard. But experts disagree about the extent of its adverse health effects. If unfired, or if found in a solid state as it was in Kandahar, the metal poses little health risk because it emits little radiation, experts say. But once it penetrates armour, depleted uranium particles can become airborne and can easily enter the human body. Canadian soldiers wear detectors to keep track of any exposure to radiation. At this point, there is no reason for Canadian soldiers who have served in Kandahar to worry about the effects of depleted uranium, said Maj. Rod Keller, of 12 Field Squadron of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. "When our team came through, at that time they did not find depleted uranium anywhere where the Canadians were either living or working," he said. Keller said he was informed by the American safety officer that the depleted uranium that was discovered here was "extremely isolated" and "you would have had to either ingest a hunk of this or somehow put it into your system" before it posed any health risk. The U.S. safety officer has left Kandahar and was not available for comment. Depleted uranium became a concern a couple of years ago after the death of Capt. Terry Riordon, a Canadian Gulf War veteran. An autopsy showed a high level of the radioactive substance in his body. His wife has been advocating that the federal government impose testing for depleted uranium on any soldiers involved in the fight against terrorism. Initial findings of both surveys in Kandahar also showed that asbestos is present in some buildings on the airbase. Neither team has yet to receive data on whether asbestos is actually in the air, and therefore a bigger threat to soldiers here. The Canadian survey found asbestos in an area where Canadian soldiers were living, but it has been dealt with appropriately, said Keller. "What we couldn't remove and what may have caused more danger to either the occupants or the person actually removing it, was isolated, and through normal industry standards and practices, it was sealed off and is now safe." Of some concern to Canadian soldiers here are the lab results from an area they were stationed earlier in the deployment, downwind of where garbage was being burned daily. Lieut. (Navy) Chris Knowlton, Ottawa project director of the environmental survey, said those results and all others stemming from the survey are in, and are being assessed by experts. A final report on the results will not come until September, he added. Both the Canadian and American surveys also looked into noise levels on the airfield. Some of the living quarters on both the Canadian and U.S. camps lay close to the runway where dozens of flights land and take off each day. "We did noise readings in several areas of the Kandahar airfield and found elevated noise levels in the vicinity of the airstrip," said Hildabrand. Lt.-Col. Pat Stogran, commanding officer of the Canadian battalion, said the survey will help in the future should any health problems crop up among the more than 800 soldiers stationed here. "We did this environmental assessment in order to document the threats that were around here in the event that soldiers do come down with ailments in the future; that we might be able to trace it back to an exposure," he said. "Everybody has different sensitivity levels . . . there were none that were serious enough to cause illness or threat to life, but it was recorded in case somebody came up with the symptoms." Knowlton said the Canadian team checked for contaminants associated with an airfield, such as petroleum products, paints and varnishes, and checked for contaminants in water used on the airfield. Until recently, the water was purified by a Canadian reverse osmosis unit. That work has been taken over by an American unit now that the Canadians are leaving Kandahar. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes http://autos.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
