Ah...anti-nuclear propaganda.Uranium is not used in the bombs. Depleted uranium is. The difference is that it is not radioactive to a dangerous degree (the radioactive isotopes are removed from the crude uranium , and used in nuclear power plants). Some of the ammunition will ionise when it hits something, but for most explossives, this is not really a problem as when it explodes it destroys everything around it. The ions also do not stay in the air.
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Cocodaye Miasere likes chips and peas,
Tue 2 Nov 2004, 18:47,
archived)
hahahahahahaha 4.5 billion years of safety aheadDepleted uranium is chemically toxic. It is an extremely dense, hard metal, and can cause chemical poisoning to the body in the same way as can lead or any other heavy metal. However, depleted uranium is also radiologically hazardous, as it spontaneously burns on impact, creating tiny aerosolised glass particles which are small enough to be inhaled. These uranium oxide particles emit all types of radiation, alpha, beta and gamma, and can be carried in the air over long distances. Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.5 billion years
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M3Essential and The Essentials. LIVE!,
Tue 2 Nov 2004, 18:51,
archived)
Thank you .. I was just about to point that one out.Given that military helecopters use D.U. on their rotorblades (to improve the characteristics of angualar momentum) I doubt they'd be doing it with radioactive isotopes.
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Hagbard ... it's been a long time.,
Tue 2 Nov 2004, 18:53,
archived)
Commercial airliners also use DUas counter balances for control surfaces. This includes the 747 and most other modern passenger aircraft.
Did briefly get involved in radioactive stuff including DU, back then it was not considered too much of a problem as DU is about half as radioactive as natural uranium. But... research was onging...
And classified...
(Did briefly get involved in radioactive stuff including DU, back then it was not considered too much of a problem as DU is about half as radioactive as natural uranium. But... research was onging...
And classified...
enthusiastic amateur delurked at:,
Tue 2 Nov 2004, 19:06,
archived)
Ah... anti-anti-nuclear propagandaSince it isn't possible to remove all U-235 there's still plenty in depleted uranium, I think around 5% which is plenty to screw you over quite nicely. An explosion doesn't actually destroy any atoms, except nuclear exposions obviously. All it does is break a nice lump of uranium into dust which you can inhale and spread it round the place.
On the other hand it is army people breathing it so more uranium I say.
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Tue 2 Nov 2004, 18:58,
archived)
On the other hand it is army people breathing it so more uranium I say.
