By Mr. David Taylor
First published in
SFOR Informer#105, January 24,
2001
Hadzici - On January 16, an SFOR investigation team visited
a factory site in the small town of Hadzici (approximately 12 kms. west of
Sarajevo). Following the discovery of a cache of suspected 30mm Depleted
Uranium (DU) rounds, the team's mission was threefold: to measure any
radiation from the spent rounds; measure any possible soil contamination;
verify whether the ammunition was in fact DU.
A great deal has been said, stated and speculated about
DU ammunition in recent weeks as part of a wide-spread concern
that there may be some link between DU and an increased level
of cancer risk. Fundamentally, DU is simply a dense, heavy metal.
Some armed forces are equipped with bullets tipped with DU for
use in armour penetration.
"Depleted uranium is a residual metal by-product of the
uranium enriching process. Since most of the radioactive isotopes have
been removed from it in the process, DU has only about 40 per cent of the
radioactivity, but retains all of the extraordinary density and
metallurgical properties that are characteristic in naturally occurring
uranium." [Lt.Col. Scott Bethel, SHAPE Operations Division, NATO media
briefing, Jan 10, 2001]
These rounds are an approved munition type
in accordance with the laws of war. Furthermore, the International
Committee on Radiation Protection (ICRP) does not list DU as a
health hazard and states that it is 40 percent less radioactive
than naturally occurring Uranium. Major Bob Thompson, SFOR Spokesperson,
has stated that "SFOR does not believe that either troops serving
with SFOR today, or the civilian population in BiH are at risk
from DU ammunition."
On Jan 8, three bullets were handed in to SFOR by visiting
journalists. SFOR agreed to analyse the rounds to see whether
they were DU. First, though, SFOR gave a strong warning concerning
the dangers of people searching for and handling ordnance. Especially
as, in this case, the rounds appeared to have been found in an
area (Hadzici) in which combat took place in 1995, and the zone
is known to be mined. Studies confirmed that the three rounds
were DU.
A specialised German
NBC team flown in especially from Santoven, Germany carried out the
on-site investigation in Hadzici.
Maximum attention was given to security with
a team working in advance to sweep the area for mines, unexploded
ordnance and booby traps. Once these preliminaries had been carried
out, local authorities and representative of the media were allowed
to observe the NBC team collecting samples and data. Following
initial on-scene testing and safety checks, the commander of the
German Battle Group approached the sampling area in the company
of Mr. Mirsad Kebo Governor of the Sarajevo Canton. Encouraged
by the EOD sweep and the findings of the NBC team, Mr. Mirsad
Kebo was prepared to take a very close look at one of the spent
rounds.
Following further detailed investigations in a specialised
laboratory at the German HQ in Camp Carreau, Rajlovac, U.S. Lt.
Col. Rodger Rudolf, SFOR Environmental and Preventative Medicine
Officer briefed the media on Jan. 18.
"Based on careful analysis of
the readings that were taken on January 16, I can confirm that
radiological results indicate that there is negligible risk from the A-10
ammunition site at Hadzici and there is no significant health hazard to
the local population or SFOR troops. Furthermore, the radiological results
obtained indicated that exposure to a person being one meter from the
ammunition for 24 hours per day everyday of the year would be less than
the current internationally accepted exposure standard for one year for
the general public."
Documents regarding DU have been grouped on the HQ NATO site at
http://www.nato.int/kosovo/010110du.htm
Related links:
Nations of SFOR: Germany
SFOR at Work
COMSFOR on the use of Depleted Uranium Munitions in BiH
