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Iraqi War Zone Sees Big Spike in Birth Defects

Fallujah reports unusually high rate of abnormalities

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2009 1:24 PM CST
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(Newser) – Doctors in Fallujah are seeing an alarming rise in the number of birth defects and early life cancers. They have no definitive evidence, but suspicion has naturally fallen on toxic materials left behind after years of modern warfare, reports the Guardian. The rate of birth defects—including multiple tumors, nervous system disorders, and even one infant born with two heads—is up to 15 times higher than normal.

"Most are in the head and spinal cord, but there are also many deficiencies in lower limbs," said the director of a city hospital that sees an average of two such admissions a day. A year ago, it saw two every two weeks. Fallujah was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and the US has acknowledged using white phosphorous in 2004.

Iraqi security forces inspect a bombed-out in Fallujah.
Iraqi security forces inspect a bombed-out in Fallujah.   (AP Photo/Bilal Fawzi)
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We are seeing a very significant increase in central nervous system anomalies. Before 2003, I was seeing sporadic numbers of deformities in babies. Now the frequency of deformities has increased dramatically. - Dr Ayman Qais, hospital director in Falluja

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
JonmarkP
Nov 15, 2009 10:57 AM CST
Good old Newser - not a mention of the principal culprit, incredibly widespread US use of Depleted Uranium Munitions. When they explode, the billions of nano-paticles are breathed deep into the lungs of civilians and soldiers alike. Expect a new round of "mysterious" Gulf War Syndrome-like health problems for returning American veterans, and tons of birth defects here, as well. But it's been a very profitable war for US munitions manufacturers, so it's all good,
fancygapva
Nov 15, 2009 9:29 AM CST
White phosphorous burns people like napalm. It's the front end effects that are a problem, I believe, not the after effects.
opheliaglass
Nov 15, 2009 7:06 AM CST
I would have upped Wraith, if not for the odd censorship tactics in that post... (lame) But, anyway, i'm glad I wasn't the only one who wondered about this, reading this article. I really don't see why the military wouldn't disregard its soldiers' health.

 
Iraq • warfare • Fallujah • chemical warfare • Iraq war • birth defect

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