-Caveat Lector- http://www.dawn.com/2002/08/12/int14.htm
Depleted uranium causing illness By Nic Fleming &Mark Townsend LONDON: Children of British soldiers who fought in wars where depleted uranium ammunition was used are at greater risk of suffering genetic diseases passed on by their fathers, new research reveals. Veterans of the conflicts in the Gulf, Bosnia and Kosovo have been found to have up to 14 times the usual level of chromosome abnormalities in their genes. That has raised fears they will pass cancers and genetic illnesses to their offspring. The study is the first to analyse chromosome deformation in soldiers. British MP Paul Tyler, a member of the Royal British Legion Gulf War Syndrome working group, said it would be 'outrageous' if the findings were ignored by the UK Government. "High levels of genetic damage do not occur naturally. It increases the probability of cancer, deformed babies and other genetic conditions significantly," said Professor Albrecht Schott, a German biochemist who coordinated the research. Schott collected blood samples from 16 British veterans last year. Fourteen had fought in the Gulf war, one of whom also served in Bosnia. Of the remaining two, one served only in Kosovo and one only in Bosnia. Two of the veterans are women. The former soldiers, who were sent the results of their tests last week, have between double and 14 times the usual level of chromosome abnormalities. The average was five-and-a-half times higher than found in tests on civilians. None had less than double the normal rate. Ex-Warrant Officer Ray Bristow, who served at 32 Field Hospital in Saudi Arabia during the 1991 Gulf war, has previously been found to have hundreds of times higher than the safe limit of depleted uranium in his urine. The father of three from Hull, now a wheelchair user, suffers problems with his memory, respiratory system, liver, kidney, bowels and hearing. He recently had a large tumour removed from his hand. Schott, who has a $45,000 debt from the tests, said that in the 18 months since the tests were taken the condition of many of the veterans had worsened and some were suffering from cancers. Last month the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it was launching an investigation after a study revealed 19 Gulf veterans had developed lymphatic or bone marrow cancers compared with 11 in a control group of men of similar age. A US survey of 21,000 veterans has also shown that those who served in the Gulf were two to three times more likely to report birth defects in their children. Depleted uranium is used in shells because its high density allows maximum penetration of hard targets such as tanks and underground bunkers. The US and Britain have admitted using 350 tons of depleted uranium in the Gulf war. Iraqi scientists have reported high levels of childhood cancers and deformed babies in local populations exposed to the ammunition. Some 53,000 British troops served in the Gulf. Of these, at least 552 have died and more than 5,200 have reported a range of illnesses. Once in the body, depleted uranium can remain for years emitting small doses of alpha radiation. Soldiers who were heavy smokers, or who had undergone chemotherapy or X-ray treatment were excluded from the study as these factors could also lead to higher than normal levels of chromosome aberrations. A spokesman for the MoD dismissed Schott's findings. "We consider the tests undertaken neither well thought out nor scientifically sound," he said. However, he said the MoD had yet to receive full details of Schott's scientific methods in the study.-Dawn/The Guardian News Service. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
