Jasper Hamil / Sunday Herald – 2008-03-22 23:01:06
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2123280.0.depleted_uranium_turns_earthworms_into_glowworms.php
Earthworms were pushed into the firing line last week after a resumption of the testing of depleted uranium shells at Dundrennan.
Significant levels of radioactive uranium isotopes were found in the flesh of worms at the Ministry of Defence’s Dumfries weapons range last year. Despite concerns from environmentalists and the international community, the MoD last week started a series of tests of depleted uranium (DU) shells, supposed “safety checks”.
A report published in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring found that worms in the Dumfries testing ground had significant traces of poisonous uranium isotopes in their bodies.
Worms are a crucial part of the ecosystem, aerating the soil and aiding the nutrient uptake of plants. If they are contaminated, it suggests the wider environment is tainted.
The report said: “Many of the soil samples from the Dundrennan Firing Range had uranium concentrations and isotopic signatures indicative of contamination with DU.
Furthermore, plants and earthworms collected from above and within contaminated soils respectively also had uranium isotopic signatures strongly influenced by DU, indicating that DU was indeed assimilated into biological tissues.”
More than 6000 DU shells have been fired into the Solway Firth at Dundrennan, amounting to more than 20 tons of nuclear waste. The tests have been linked to increased rates of cancer and leukaemia in the area.
Opposition to their use is hardening, after a vote at the United Nations General Assembly, won by 136 states to five, required states to submit files on the health implications of DU. Britain was one of the states to vote against it.
The Scottish government criticised the new tests. An SNP spokeswoman said: “We want to ask the secretary of state for defence about the UK’s position with regard to these international developments. Although we don’t have any powers over defence policy, we are responsible for the health and wellbeing of the people and service personnel of Scotland.”
Depleted uranium is used to make hard tips for armour-piercing rounds. When they explode, the uranium turns into a fine powder which is carried on the wind for miles around. In Iraq and Kosovo, the use of the shells has been blamed for horrific birth defects as well as being implicated in causing Gulf war syndrome.
Robin Harper, Scottish Green Party MSP, said: “There is no safe place to test these shells, and there is no appropriate battlefield to use them on either. The MoD should commit to the ban requested by the European parliament.”
The MoD insisted the tests would be safe. It said: “Comprehensive environmental monitoring programmes involving air, water and soil sampling have been in place at and around Kirkcudbright since the beginning of the DU munitions trials. The findings continue to show DU does not pose a significant risk to the environment or to members of the public or site personnel.”
Posted in accordance with Title 17, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
Comments
• Posted by: The Wise One, Glasgow on 9:23pm Sat 15 Mar 08
I suppose it is one way of disposing of nuclear waste…. Blow it up into tiny molecules and let it scatter in the breeze. You just couldn’t make this stuff up!
I suppose it is one way of disposing of nuclear waste….
Blow it up into tiny molecules and let it scatter in the breeze.
You just couldn’t make this stuff up!
• Posted by: Tumshie McPlum on 3:07am Sun 16 Mar 08
“Fears that radioactive material has tainted ecosystem. By Jasper Hamill” I think you may be a contender for master of the understatement with this JASPER. “Furthermore, plants and earthworms collected from above and within contaminated soils respectively also had uranium isotopic signatures strongly influenced by DU, indicating that DU was indeed assimilated into biological tissues.” “The tests have been linked to increased rates of cancer and leukaemia in the area.” BUT THEY CONTINUE ANYWAY !!! “The Scottish government criticised the new tests.” Yeah somebody has some sense, pity we are not independent. “The MoD insisted the tests would be safe.” Well they would, wouldn’t they? Just like the medical profession said ECT is successful in 9 out of 10 cases where they use it, BUT, THEY ONLY USE IT AS A LAST RESORT. I rest my case about these morons.
“Fears that radioactive material has tainted ecosystem. By Jasper Hamill”
I think you may be a contender for master of the understatement with this JASPER.
“Furthermore, plants and earthworms collected from above and within contaminated soils respectively also had uranium isotopic signatures strongly influenced by DU, indicating that DU was indeed assimilated into biological tissues.”
“The tests have been linked to increased rates of cancer and leukaemia in the area.”
BUT THEY CONTINUE ANYWAY !!!
“The Scottish government criticised the new tests.”
Yeah somebody has some sense, pity we are not independent.
“The MoD insisted the tests would be safe.”
Well they would, wouldn’t they? Just like the medical profession said ECT is successful in 9 out of 10 cases where they use it, BUT, THEY ONLY USE IT AS A LAST RESORT.
I rest my case about these morons.
• Posted by: Roger Helbig on 4:06am Sun 16 Mar 08
I strongly doubt that earthworms have any significant amount of uranium. My comment forwarding this article to RADSAFE the international radiation protection list was “This sounds pretty bogus – worms have significant traces of poisonous uranium isotopes” – you may read the replies here radlab.nl/radsafe/ If you would like to learn more about uranium, a very common element in our environment, and DU, go to www.depletedcranium. com – you also might like to learn more about international research with the links at http://tech.groups.y ahoo.com/group/DUSto ry/message/55 – the first link is to the UNEP extensive field and laboratory work in Boznia-Herzegovina – you will immediately note that the scientists do not have masks or radiation suits and that is a clear indication of the real hazard of DU. Roger
I strongly doubt that earthworms have any significant amount of uranium. My comment forwarding this article to RADSAFE the international radiation protection list was “This sounds pretty bogus – worms have significant traces of poisonous uranium isotopes” – you may read the replies here radlab.nl/radsafe/
If you would like to learn more about uranium, a very common element in our environment, and DU, go to www.depletedcranium.
com – you also might like to learn more about international research with the links at http://tech.groups.y
ahoo.com/group/DUSto
ry/message/55 – the first link is to the UNEP extensive field and laboratory work in Boznia-Herzegovina – you will immediately note that the scientists do not have masks or radiation suits and that is a clear indication of the real hazard of DU.
Roger
• Posted by: Roger Helbig on 4:50am Sun 16 Mar 08
I just went to the Journal of Environmental Monitoring’s website under the Royal Society of Chemistry and I could not find the article. Does anyone have the link the actual JEM article?
I just went to the Journal of Environmental Monitoring’s website under the Royal Society of Chemistry and I could not find the article. Does anyone have the link the actual JEM article?
• Posted by: wullie on 5:03am Sun 16 Mar 08
scotland – the best wee nuclear dump in the world. You know it makes sense. With our small compliant population why would you want to test the shells anywhere else. Yes an absolute stonker of a policy from the MOD to test off Scotland – and with a bit of luck some of us Jocks might just glow too like the lugworms. Oh ho ho
scotland – the best wee nuclear dump in the world.
You know it makes sense. With our small compliant population why would you want to test the shells anywhere else.
Yes an absolute stonker of a policy from the MOD to test off Scotland – and with a bit of luck some of us Jocks might just glow too like the lugworms.
• Posted by: Cynicus on 2:01pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Roger H. directs our attention to the nuclear establishment perspectives on the ‘safety’ of d.u., so admired by western governments and military. The truth is very different. http://www.shunpikin g.com/DODU/ARBUTHNOT .htm and see various du weapons references at http://www.llrc.org/
Roger H. directs our attention to the nuclear establishment perspectives on the ‘safety’ of d.u., so admired by western governments and military.
The truth is very different.
http://www.shunpiking.com/DODU/ARBUTHNOT.htm
and see various du weapons references at
http://www.llrc.org/
• Posted by: SundayTurpie, Glasgow on 2:31pm Sun 16 Mar 08
“Robin Harper, Scottish Green Party MSP, said: “There is no safe place to test these shells” but he’s wrong, you know. As far as Westminster and Whitehall are concerned, anywhere outside their purlieu is safe and since it is so far,far away Dundrennan is incredibly safe.( like Dounreay )..(and Faslane).
“Robin Harper, Scottish Green Party MSP, said: “There is no safe place to test these shells”
but he’s wrong, you know. As far as Westminster and Whitehall are concerned, anywhere outside their purlieu is safe and since it is so far,far away Dundrennan is incredibly safe.( like Dounreay )..(and Faslane).
• Posted by: Peter Dearman on 6:51pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Here you go Roger – a link to the paper: tinyurl.com/24ceon It wasn’t very hard to find using the rsc.org search tools.
Here you go Roger – a link to the paper:
tinyurl.com/24ceon
It wasn’t very hard to find using the rsc.org search tools.
• Posted by: Richard Bramhall, Wales, UK on 11:03pm Sun 16 Mar 08
May I offer a small thank you to Roger Helbig for giving us his real name? It’s so rare that people who apologise for polluting the planet with radioactivity are be open about their identities. If you Google “Roger Helbig” you’ll see he’s USAF Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Roger Helbig. Felicity Arbuthnot calls him ” a man with an unhealthy obsession”. Unless this is a different Roger Helbig. Whoever he is, the belief that concentrations of Uranium around Dundrennan are too low to be “significant” is based on a false understanding of radiation risk – an MISunderstanding promoted by pro-nuclear interests since World War 2 and based on predicting the health impact of radioactivity inside the body as if it were equivalent to radiation delivered from outside the body. This is not science, and as a result the conventional radiation risk model is in meltdown. Unluckily, after 60 years of nuclear folly, the radioactive genie is out of the bottle. All we can do is stop making the mess worse, which promises to take DU – a very cheap source of big bangs – away from the military. DU is illegal. Stop it, Roger.
May I offer a small thank you to Roger Helbig for giving us his real name? It’s so rare that people who apologise for polluting the planet with radioactivity are be open about their identities. If you Google “Roger Helbig” you’ll see he’s USAF Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Roger Helbig. Felicity Arbuthnot calls him ” a man with an unhealthy obsession”. Unless this is a different Roger Helbig.
Whoever he is, the belief that concentrations of Uranium around Dundrennan are too low to be “significant” is based on a false understanding of radiation risk – an MISunderstanding promoted by pro-nuclear interests since World War 2 and based on predicting the health impact of radioactivity inside the body as if it were equivalent to radiation delivered from outside the body. This is not science, and as a result the conventional radiation risk model is in meltdown. Unluckily, after 60 years of nuclear folly, the radioactive genie is out of the bottle. All we can do is stop making the mess worse, which promises to take DU – a very cheap source of big bangs – away from the military. DU is illegal. Stop it, Roger.
• Posted by: Elisabeth Jenders, Muenster, Germany on 12:14am Mon 17 Mar 08
Makes me more and more convinced that some dark power is about to make the first statement on the Georgia Guide Stones come true: World population not more than 500 million. Dig it out again, it’s more topical than ever, Barry McGuire’s song: “And you don’t believe, we’re on the Eve Of Destruction”!
Makes me more and more convinced that some dark power is about to make the first statement on the Georgia Guide Stones come true: World population not more than 500 million. Dig it out again, it’s more topical than ever, Barry McGuire’s song: “And you don’t believe, we’re on the Eve Of Destruction”!
• Posted by: Rabbit on 12:35am Mon 17 Mar 08
[bold]The commenter above called Roger Helbig is actually Lt Col Roger Helbig, a Pentagon Shill well known all over the internet as a shill assigned to the Depleted Uranium issue. He is a professional liar and propagandist.[/bold]
The commenter above called Roger Helbig is actually Lt Col Roger Helbig, a Pentagon Shill well known all over the internet as a shill assigned to the Depleted Uranium issue. He is a professional liar and propagandist.
• Posted by: NavyBrat, Fareham, UK on 12:39am Mon 17 Mar 08
Vasques Island in Puerto Rico, along with various other points on the globe, are in a similar situation; DU weapons testing with subsequent cancer and birth defect clusters. It will take massive political action to stop the militaries involved from doing this. Get on the phone and write to your local MP and start raising hell about this. Otherwise, I would suggest reading John Wyndham’s classic SF book “The Chrysalids” as a primer for things to come.
Vasques Island in Puerto Rico, along with various other points on the globe, are in a similar situation; DU weapons testing with subsequent cancer and birth defect clusters. It will take massive political action to stop the militaries involved from doing this. Get on the phone and write to your local MP and start raising hell about this. Otherwise, I would suggest reading John Wyndham’s classic SF book “The Chrysalids” as a primer for things to come.
• Posted by: David on 1:16am Mon 17 Mar 08
It’s high time that Blair and bush be sent away for a very long time for what they have done. As for the people still testing DU they too should be put away for a very long time. DU is a last resort ww3 munition not a pre emptive war weapon on a third world nation that is defenseless
It’s high time that Blair and bush be sent away for a very long time for what they have done.
As for the people still testing DU they too should be put away for a very long time.
DU is a last resort ww3 munition not a pre emptive war weapon on a third world nation that is defenseless
• Posted by: gary, Louisville,Ky on 3:26am Mon 17 Mar 08
Beelzebush and Tony Beliar are in the NWO club, and part of the agenda is to depopulate the world by 5 out of 6 people so the rich globalist elites can have absolute control. These people are degenerates. Very evil people.
Beelzebush and Tony Beliar are in the NWO club, and part of the agenda is to depopulate the world by 5 out of 6 people so the rich globalist elites can have absolute control. These people are degenerates. Very evil people.
• Posted by: Dragonslayer, US on 5:35am Mon 17 Mar 08
[bold]Yes, you are correct about Roger working from the Pentacon. I play with him like a cat plays with a mouse before the kill… Here you go Roger:)[/bold] DU dust at no matter what level is a threat to human health when inhaled. Alpha particles are far more destructive when lodged in your lungs because an alpha particle emits a huge amount of energy during the alpha emission into the adjacent lung tissue. DNA in those cells is mutated into cancer cells. Lung cancer is virtually assured. These are nanoparticles and it only takes a few to cause lung cancer. Current radiation risk skirts around alpha particles and is not set up to deal with this type of exposure. Radiation risk standards only focus on a human’s exposure to the surface of the skin and alpha particles are not a concern in this case. Nanoparticles go through all filter mask material, and there is no safe method for cleaning it up. If you try to clean it up, you will urinate uranium for sure. Instead, “experts” that promote Depleted Uranium as natural try to compare it to natural occurring uranium ore. This is another lie because “depleted uranium” is pure uranium that only has some of the U235 removed. It is actually 40% less radioactive than pure uranium and thousands of times more radioactive than uranium ore. This all leads to the fact that DU is utilized for depopulating populations in areas where resources are desired like the Middle East. Why are the English interested in reducing the population in Scotland? Let me know..
Yes, you are correct about Roger working from the Pentacon. I play with him like a cat plays with a mouse before the kill… Here you go Roger:)
DU dust at no matter what level is a threat to human health when inhaled. Alpha particles are far more destructive when lodged in your lungs because an alpha particle emits a huge amount of energy during the alpha emission into the adjacent lung tissue. DNA in those cells is mutated into cancer cells. Lung cancer is virtually assured. These are nanoparticles and it only takes a few to cause lung cancer. Current radiation risk skirts around alpha particles and is not set up to deal with this type of exposure. Radiation risk standards only focus on a human’s exposure to the surface of the skin and alpha particles are not a concern in this case. Nanoparticles go through all filter mask material, and there is no safe method for cleaning it up. If you try to clean it up, you will urinate uranium for sure. Instead, “experts” that promote Depleted Uranium as natural try to compare it to natural occurring uranium ore. This is another lie because “depleted uranium” is pure uranium that only has some of the U235 removed. It is actually 40% less radioactive than pure uranium and thousands of times more radioactive than uranium ore. This all leads to the fact that DU is utilized for depopulating populations in areas where resources are desired like the Middle East. Why are the English interested in reducing the population in Scotland? Let me know..
• Posted by: C, US on 6:57am Mon 17 Mar 08
Thank goodness for Dragonslayer, otherwise Lt. Helbig might be too disturbing to bear. One might sink into a sense of futility were it not for Dragonslayers monitoring and dependable responses to hopeless trolls like Helbig.
Thank goodness for Dragonslayer, otherwise Lt. Helbig might be too disturbing to bear. One might sink into a sense of futility were it not for Dragonslayers monitoring and dependable responses to hopeless trolls like Helbig.
• Posted by: David on 3:09pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Gulf war syndrome? DU munitions were first used in G.W. 1. They are still being used. Just because it doesn’t make a mushroom cloud doesn’t mean it’s not a nuclear weapon.
Gulf war syndrome? DU munitions were first used in G.W. 1. They are still being used. Just because it doesn’t make a mushroom cloud doesn’t mean it’s not a nuclear weapon.
• Posted by: Val S., US on 11:55pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Kudos as well Dragonslayer! This Shill and Misinfo Agent has met his match! We must be ever vgilant and expose these irresponsible and ill making worms (excuse the pun) for who and what they are! Thanks
Kudos as well Dragonslayer! This Shill and Misinfo Agent has met his match! We must be ever vgilant and expose these irresponsible and ill making worms (excuse the pun) for who and what they are! Thanks
• Posted by: Jim Hoerner, USA on 12:38am Tue 18 Mar 08
Mother Earth is full of uranium. It is ubiquitous in soil. Is the amount of uranium found in these worms in high excess of the amount found in a control group? Depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural uranium. Best regards, Jim Hoerner (of Know_Nukes)
Mother Earth is full of uranium. It is ubiquitous in soil. Is the amount of uranium found in these worms in high excess of the amount found in a control group? Depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural uranium.
Best regards,
Jim Hoerner
(of Know_Nukes)
• Posted by: Jim Hoerner, USA on 12:58am Tue 18 Mar 08
*Depleted uranium turns earthworms into glowworms* Great! Now I will be able to work in my vegetable garden at night! So says the award-winning Sunday Herald that lots of people apparently read for definitive science news. Best regards, Jim Hoerner
*Depleted uranium turns earthworms into glowworms*
Great! Now I will be able to work in my vegetable garden at night! So says the award-winning Sunday Herald that lots of people apparently read for definitive science news.
Best regards,
Jim Hoerner
• Posted by: Dragonslayer, US on 5:47am Tue 18 Mar 08
Jim- It would be much better for you to do some research. Your gross ignorance is embarrassing me that I actually feel sorry for you. Sheep are poisoned when their faith tries to override science. I bet you believe the earth is 6000 years old too. You need to read my earlier post. Once again, [bold]there is no comparison between naturally occurring uranium and depleted uranium. Do you know why? Let me help out… It takes centrifuges to create depleted uranium. It is a highly sophisticated industrial process that usually leaves the environment around the enrichment facility totally contaminated and a threat to its inhabitants. Natural occuring uranium like ore is created by little microorganisms that grab atoms of uranium in the subsoil. Are you really comparing little microorganisms to industrial centrifuges that cause countries to want to go to war with each other. Surely you couldn’t be doing that… [/bold]
Jim-
It would be much better for you to do some research. Your gross ignorance is embarrassing me that I actually feel sorry for you. Sheep are poisoned when their faith tries to override science. I bet you believe the earth is 6000 years old too. You need to read my earlier post. Once again, there is no comparison between naturally occurring uranium and depleted uranium. Do you know why? Let me help out… It takes centrifuges to create depleted uranium. It is a highly sophisticated industrial process that usually leaves the environment around the enrichment facility totally contaminated and a threat to its inhabitants. Natural occuring uranium like ore is created by little microorganisms that grab atoms of uranium in the subsoil. Are you really comparing little microorganisms to industrial centrifuges that cause countries to want to go to war with each other. Surely you couldn’t be doing that…
• Posted by: George, Draguignan on 3:48pm Tue 18 Mar 08
I read somewhere this DU is also taken the Bees which are sticky out : 65% in the UK and much more in the US. Clouds of airborne molecules. So, when will we follow.
I read somewhere this DU
is also taken the Bees which are sticky out : 65% in the UK and much more in the US.
Clouds of airborne molecules.
So, when will we follow.
• Posted by: George, Draguignan on 3:58pm Tue 18 Mar 08
After reading some of the above : one small bullet airbornes more than a billion molecules – one in your lung and y’r dead. – Ask any veteran – Is this part of an alien invasion on earthlings ?
After reading some of the above :
one small bullet airbornes more than a billion molecules – one in your lung and y’r dead. – Ask any veteran –
Is this part of an alien invasion
on earthlings ?
• Posted by: John, Paris on 4:10pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Do these Pentagon guys hate their own children so much
