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Lv 7
? asked in Politics & GovernmentMilitary · 10 years ago

the tank shells that are radioactive ,and the affects on the troops ?

is this the deserts war form or agent orange,makes you wonder doesn't it?

7 Answers

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  • Hayley
    Lv 7
    10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Depleted uranium shells are safe when intact.

    However, once they are fired and hit a hard object, like a tank, some of the DU is vaporized into dust. This dust is not good for you.

    The ones who say DU is safe for you are wrong. DU is a toxic metal and can affect the brain, kidney, liver, heart...intake of a toxic heavy metal into your body is never good.

    There have not been long term medical studies done to figure out how bad the damage can be, but some experts have suggested that it poses a threat to normal reproduction, can cause neural damage, genetic damage, and may be carcinogenic.

  • Do a lot more Research here dude, It is breathing the dust created by the shell passing through armor that cause's the problem, once it settles or get wet it is not a prob. The DU rounds have a slightly higher level of radiation than back ground radiation. When it settles and get mixed in with dirt and dust it takes a very very long time of exposure breathing all this dust to cause a problem

  • AJ
    Lv 7
    10 years ago

    Don't believe everything you read on the internet. The rounds are not radioactive. The term depleted uranium means its no longer radioactive.

    Source(s): Former Army M-1 tanker
  • 10 years ago

    If you think DU is bad, then stay off the beach. You get more radiation from a hot day in the sun than you do from DU. You aren't equipped to have this debate.

    Source(s): 26 years active Army service.
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  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    Yak rider

    Uranium is not really SAFE chemically or otherwise

    and just because it is depleated of most of its reactive material it is still radiaoactive

    It is common in the enviornment, part of some porceline clays etc but is still a hazardous material

    War is for killing, D_U is just another form.

    lots of bad stuff happens. including release of Nerve agents.

    Source(s): tested the damn things in the 60,s sorry I did
  • 10 years ago

    Tank shells are just steel with gunpowder in it.

  • 10 years ago

    Depleted uranium is safe.

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