-Caveat Lector-
France Casts Doubt on Uranium Claim
by CLAR NI CHONGHAILE
Associated Press Writer
PARIS (AP) -- France cast doubt Monday on claims that exposure to
armor-piercing ammunition containing depleted uranium may have
triggered cancer in French troops who served in the Balkans.
The fear that depleted uranium ammunition might be a health risk
has swept Europe in recent weeks as various nations have reported
cancer cases among their troops, and NATO medical experts are
studying the possible health risks.
But the Defense Ministry in Paris said tests on five French
soldiers who served in the Balkans and who now have cancer did
not reveal any traces of depleted uranium. Tests on a sixth ill
soldier were continuing.
The findings mirrored similar research from neighboring Germany.
Last week, German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping said tests on
soldiers sent to Kosovo and those never deployed there showed no
differences. He said the incidence of two cancers -- leukemia and
lymphoma -- among German soldiers was no higher than among the
general population in 1999.
Depleted uranium, a slightly radioactive heavy metal, is used in
anti-armor munitions because of its high penetrating power. U.S.
forces fired weapons containing depleted uranium in Bosnia in
1994 and 1995, and in 1999, NATO fired such weapons during its
78-day bombing campaign in Yugoslavia.
Depleted uranium has not been widely studied, and experts say
they don't know exactly how much must be consumed to be harmful.
The lack of conclusive scientific evidence has only served to
feed public concern, which emerged when Italy said it was
investigating illnesses in 30 Balkan veterans and then exploded
as tales of sick or dying soldiers poured in from local media
across Europe.
One European minister described the uproar as media-generated
''hysteria,'' and NATO has said there is no evidence that remains
of depleted uranium rounds pose a health risk. But in the face of
mounting public anxiety, the alliance's highest medical advisory
body met in Brussels on Monday to discuss the reports.
Several European countries have introduced screening programs for
Balkan veterans. And to be safe, Italy and Germany have called
for a moratorium on use of depleted uranium weapons until health
experts can study possible risks, but last week NATO turned down
that recommendation.
On Monday, a Swiss ammunition company said it would investigate
its own testing of depleted uranium ammunition on a company-owned
range in the late 1960s.
Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec said it used the foreign-made
ammunition on a range near Studen, in central Switzerland.
It was not immediately clear how much was used or whether the
company had permission. Swiss authorities said they would
investigate the possibility of long-term pollution at the site.
In Greece, where public opposition to the NATO strikes in Kosovo
was widespread, Defense Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos said Monday
that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright asked him to muffle
complaints about possible health risks linked to the munitions.
In Washington, State Department officials who asked not to be
identified said they hadn't heard about any such request from
Albright.
Copyright © Newsday, Inc. Produced by Newsday
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