Anybody Wanna Buy Some Toxic Waste?

So, I'm doing some quick research for my sister-in-law, Lisa, and lookie what I find on a government web page! (See the screencap. The original is here: http://energycommerce.house.gov/…dule.shtml but will probably be changed if it hasn't been already.)



To me it looks like our government is looking to sell off it's stockpile of depleted uranium! What's depleted uranium? Well, it's a bi-product of enriching uranium and it's used for all sorts of things, many of which have to do with killing--ironically, none of which directly have to do with the fact that DU is just 40% less radioactive compared to the fully enriched stuff.



So, what the heck is our government doing selling off what is effectively toxic waste?



Good question. The Wikipedia.org article on DU (here: http://en.wikipedia.org/…ed_uranium) explains that:



"DU is used for its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3. Civilian uses include counterweights in aircraft, radiation shielding in medical radiation therapy and industrial radiography equipment, and containers used to transport radioactive materials. Military uses include defensive armor plate and armor-piercing projectiles.



Depleted uranium munitions are controversial because of numerous unanswered questions about the long-term health effects."



The article goes on to say that:



"While any radiation exposure has risks, no conclusive epidemiological data have correlated DU exposure to specific human health effects such as cancer."



However, it also adds that:



"...the UK government has attributed birth defect claims from a 1991 Gulf War combat veteran to DU poisoning,[4][5] and studies using cultured cells and laboratory rodents continue to suggest the possibility of leukemogenic, genetic, reproductive, and neurological effects from chronic exposure. Until such issues are resolved with further research, the use of DU by the military will continue to be controversial."



I'm thinking the stuff should be disposed of, not profited from.



To think I was only looking for info on a hearing held about virtual worlds!
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