# Could this be the result of bioligical warfare in IRaq? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166 "2003-07-31T17:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/1 "2003-07-31T17:00:20Z")
[http://www.lakesunleader.com/display/inn\_news/news1.txt](http://www.lakesunleader.com/display/inn_news/news1.txt) If so, we found our WMD’s. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/2 "2003-07-31T17:52:09Z")
It seems that they would know if it was anthrax or not right away. ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/3 "2003-07-31T17:54:54Z")
There’s more than anthrax that could be used as a bilogical agent. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/4 "2003-07-31T19:10:33Z")
Kinda premature to start shouting “WMDs!”, ainnit? I mean, it could also be radiation poisoning from all the depleted uranium shells we’ve been tossin’ around the place. Or maybe somebody ate some rancid meat… ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/5 "2003-07-31T19:27:01Z")
Just suggesting. Not shouting. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/6 "2003-08-01T03:30:13Z")
You cannot get radiation poisoning from depleted uranium. That’s why they call it ‘depleted’. You can, however, get poisoned from the heavy metal content in the shells, just as you can from lead. But that’s not what this disease is. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/7 "2003-08-01T13:56:18Z")
Looks like a local story bumped yours off the front page. Got another link? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/8 "2003-08-01T15:03:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*You cannot get radiation poisoning from depleted uranium. That’s why they call it ‘depleted’. \*\* It’s called “depleted” because it is depleted of the U-235 (only 0.7% of naturally occurring uranium) which is the stuff that can be used to make nuclear bombs and power nuclear plants. Ounce-per-ounce U-238 is less radioactive than U-235, but there’s a lot more of it, so depleted uranium is about two-thirds as radioactive as natural uranium. U-238 by itself cannot be used for nuclear power or nuclear bombs. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/9 "2003-08-01T21:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Wants his job back > > City administrator, one of three fired Lake Ozark officials, files lawsuit > > By Joyce L. Miller > > Lake Sun > > LAKE OZARK - The former Lake Ozark administrator is denying he did anything to warrant his firing and is suing the city to prove his point > > A hearing was held Thursday in response to a request by former administrator Steve Castaner. Castaner’s attorney asked for the hearing to give the former official a chance to address allegations of insubordination and misuse of funds made against him by board members and the mayor. Egads! Those MONSTERS! :eek: Too bad the story got bumped, do you have another link somewhere or recall what the story was about? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/10 "2003-08-01T21:23:43Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s called “depleted” because it is depleted of the U-235 (only 0.7% of naturally occurring uranium) which is the stuff that can be used to make nuclear bombs and power nuclear plants **bibliophage** , my understanding is that while depleted uranium is quite toxic, it is either not radioactive, or radioactive for a very short time. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/11 "2003-08-02T02:06:59Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s called “depleted” because it is depleted of the U-235 (only 0.7% of naturally occurring uranium) which is the stuff that can be used to make nuclear bombs and power nuclear plants. Ounce-per-ounce U-238 is less radioactive than U-235, but there’s a lot more of it, so depleted uranium is about two-thirds as radioactive as natural uranium. U-238 by itself cannot be used for nuclear power or nuclear bombs. Yes, I know. The fact is, the amount and type of natural radiation in depleted uranium is not dangerous. It has a very long half-life and emits alpha radiation which cannot penetrate skin. The only even potendial risk is if it’s ingested (or perhaps fragments left in the body), but the literature doesn’t even support that. Here’s what [Rand](http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/b04151999_bt170-99.htm) has to say about it: > [@](#): > > The report states that there are no peer reviewed published reports of detectable increases of cancer or other negative health effects from radiation exposure to inhaled or ingested natural uranium at levels far exceeding those likely in the Gulf. This is mainly because the body is very effective at eliminating ingested and inhaled uranium and because the low radioactivity of natural or depleted uranium means that the mass of uranium needed for significant internal exposure is virtually impossible to obtain. Large variations in exposure to radioactivity from natural uranium in the normal environment have not been associated with negative health effects. The scare mongering over Depleted Uranium has no basis in science. You might as well scream about the health effects of from the lead of bullets left lying around. If you had a whole basement full of DU rounds, you’d still get more radiation exposure from naturally occuring radon in the air of your home. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/12 "2003-08-02T03:33:18Z")
Any comment on the enormous cancer rates in cities like Basra, **Sam**? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/13 "2003-08-02T04:20:57Z")
Nope. None at all. Are you suggesting a lot of Depleted Uranium shells were fired at Basra? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/14 "2003-08-02T04:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you suggesting a lot of Depleted Uranium shells were fired at Basra? Yes, it was one of the cities (Baghdad and Mosul were among the others) that saw particularly heavy use of DU. I imagine you’ll chuck it because of the source, but rates of cancer and birth defects in Iraq are supposed to have gone way up. (A Seattle Post-Intelligencer article I’m looking at says in 1989 there were 11 [defects] per 100,000 births; in 2001 there were 116 per 100,000 births.") Also, while the government really likes the Rand report you cited above - there seems to be more of a scientific dispute than you suggest - that same report also says “few studies to date . . . have focused directly on DU.” ---
**Author:** ![starman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@starman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/15 "2003-08-02T04:47:27Z")
Just for clarification, I suspect [this](http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s915843.htm) is the story referred to in the OP. Seems a bit of a stretch to connect it with WMD at this stage, however. -Oli ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-the-result-of-bioligical-warfare-in-iraq/192166/16 "2003-08-02T04:55:35Z")
Ah. > [@](#): > > Authorities say there is no evidence of chemical, biological, or environmental toxins involved in the troops’ illness, and SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] has also been ruled out. Yeah, we’ve found our WMDs. 😛 Don’t you think if there was a chance that was what happened, it’d be huge news? I’m also not aware of pneumonia being used as a bio-weapon.