US 'DU' Soldiers Continue To Die From Cancers

May 1, 2007

DU CONTINUES TO KILL

Dustin Brim went into the Army a healthy man. A year later, he returned home. His body was riddled with incurable cancer. Could his own weapons and armor ¡ª

made with a byproduct of enriched uranium ¡ª have been the cause?

Update: Soldier health scare back in news

Lori Brim cradled her son in her arms for three months before he died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Dustin Brim, a 22-year-old Army specialist had collapsed three years ago in Iraq from a very aggressive cancer that attacked his kidney, caused a mass to grow over his esophagus and collapsed a lung.

Dustin Brim in Iraq before becoming ill.

In their own words:

Johnnye Lewis, University of New Mexico inhalation toxicologist

"I think that from my discussions with the returning veterans, I am concerned."

Hear the entire interview here.

Doug Craig, radiation biologist/toxicologist

"I don¡¯t think anyone doubts inhalation of natural uranium ores in sufficient quantity causes cancer. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any doubt about that at all. But it¡¯s a longer-term effect."

Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino(D-N.M.)

"We had monies going to the New Mexico State Veterans Affairs Department for the purpose of having them set up a screening program for people who may have been exposed. It would be a way to begin documenting the level of the problem."

Raymond Ramos, former New York National Guard staff sergeant

'It began with headaches. Through time they increased and stayed a long time. Then came numbness in my hands and face. I was very weak and lost a lot of weight. It continued until I could no longer function..."

Gerard D. Matthew, former Marine and Army national guard soldier

"We feel the American people -- especially small-town America --

needs to know (that) the weapons we have hurt their own children and the government knows it."

Dustin Brim in Iraq before becoming ill.

(Courtesy Lori Brim)

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In their own words:

Johnnye Lewis, University of New Mexico inhalation toxicologist

"I think that from my discussions with the returning veterans, I am concerned."

Hear the entire interview here.

Doug Craig, radiation biologist/toxicologist

"I don¡¯t think anyone doubts inhalation of natural uranium ores in sufficient quantity causes cancer. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any doubt about that at all. But it¡¯s a longer-term effect."

Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino(D-N.M.)

"We had monies going to the New Mexico State Veterans Affairs Department for the purpose of having them set up a screening program for people who may have been exposed. It would be a way to begin documenting the level of the problem."

NEWS UPDATES

Oct. 2006: President George W. Bush signed the Department of Defense Authorization legislation. The House amendment was authored and introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wa.) ordering a comprehensive study ¡ª with a report due in one year ¡ª on possible adverse health effects on U.S. soldiers from the U.S. military¡¯s use of DU ¡ª Depleted Uranium. The Senate companion bill was backed by Joe Lieberman of Conn., a democrat at the time. (McDermott¡¯s Web site: www.house.gov/mcdermott)

Feb. 6, 2007: The New York newspaper, The Post Chronicle, reported that U.S. government scientists at the Ames Laboratory in Iowa say they are close to developing nanostructured material of tungsten and metallic glass to eliminate the use of depleted uranium in ammunition. In a recent phone call by The News-Journal to senior scientist Dan Sordelet, reported to be leading the research team, he said he is "no longer working on that" and declined to give any further information.

March 23, 2007: The Tico Times of San Jose, Costa Rica, reported that the U.S. and Costa Rican activists are lobbying to enlist Costa Rica¡¯s Nobel Peace Prize winner and disarmament defender to lead their uphill battle against the military use of a popular radioactive weapon.

April 3, 2007: ABC News Online, Australia, reports that the Australian Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson says he is concerned the group "Depleted Uranium Silent Killer," which is opposed to the use of depleted uranium weapons, is using Gulf War veterans to run an anti-uranium scare campaign. The group says overseas tests confirm two Sunshine Coast veterans from the first Gulf War ¡ª one in the Army and the other in the Navy ¡ª were exposed to the heavy metal during their service 15 years ago.

April 10, 2007: Star Tribune (Minn., Mn.) reports a state Senate committee OK¡¯d a bill providing for testing veteran national guardsmen returning from Iraq to see if dust from spent-uranium munitions has harmed them. Link: www.startribune.com/587/story/1112856.html

VIDEO¡¤ Depleted Uranium Hazard Awareness - US Army Training Video

More- http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/uranium/index.htm