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The United States says that it could use depleted uranium in the Libyan war.
Depleted Uranium is a highly dangerous weapon placed in a variety of munitions. Once a shell explodes radioactive isotopes are released in a cloud of dust. That dust then spreads into the surrounding region poisoning anyone unfortunate enough to inhale the particles.
According to the US military they have not yet used DU. The US did admit using A-10 tankbuster aircraft designed to destroy armoured cars and tanks, and which are capable of firing 3,900 armour-piercing DU-tipped shells per minute.
A-10s were heavily used in the Balkan conflict, and Kosovo officials were dismayed to learn that some 11 tons of uranium weapons were fired there, leaving dangerous uranium dust fallout in their wake.
The US has a poor track record when it relates to admitting use of certain weapons. Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. “The US has a long history of only admitting to deploying this radioactive material months or years after it has been used.”
DU is widely blamed for large spikes in cancer, child deaths, and birth defects in areas where the dust is released.
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