New Study: Depleted uranium could damage DNA

DOD officials say exposure not a health risk to troops

srars&stripes:Depleted uranium, used to harden vehicles and armor-piercing munitions, might cause damage to DNA in ways previously not understood by health officials, according to a recently released study from Northern Arizona University.

The research could again raise questions about the military's use of depleted uranium, a practice Defense Department officials insist does not present health risks to troops. The dense metal is a by-product of the nuclear fuel enrichment process.

Theories connecting Gulf War Syndrome to radiation exposure from uranium-laced battlefields have persisted for years. Defense Department studies show no lingering exposure danger, officials said.

A 2004 study by the Defense Department concluded that the health risks from inhaling airborne particles of depleted uranium are "very low" in combat situations.

But the new study, conducted by biochemist Diane Stearns shows that, separate from any radiation risks, cells exposed to uranium can bond with the heavy metal particles. That biochemical reaction can cause genetic mutations, which in turn can curtail cell growth and potentially cause cancer.

Stearns said the research is too preliminary to prove that uranium-treated ammunition can cause harmful side effects.

"But it does raise the question of whether we're testing for the right things when we look at the health effects," she said. "If we're not seeing radioactivity in people being tested, maybe that's not what we should be looking for." Read more