An
international scientific symposium on the use of Depleted Uranium and its
impact on man and environment in Iraq was held in Baghdad between December
2-3, 1998.
Several
Iraqi and international researchers attended the symposium, in which 11
researches were presented on the effects of the use of the radioactive
weapon -Depleted Uranium (DU)- on human beings and their environment (soil,
water, plants and animals). Most of these studies focussed on the investigation
of the frequency and the pattern of cancer primarily in southern Iraq,
and on the health implications for future generations in view of the high
incidence of congenital deformities. Data on the relationship between the
high incidence of cancer and DU explosions were also presented.
The
researches were conducted under unfavourable conditions, and with the lack
of necessary equipment and limited facilities because of the severe effects
of more than eight years of sanctions. Besides, the complete isolation
of Iraqi scientists from their counterparts outside Iraq, and the absence
of recent periodicals made the work even more difficult.
However,
Iraqi scientists managed to provide solid evidence for the causal relationship
between the use of DU during the Gulf War and the high incidence of cancer
and congenital deformations, particularly in southern Iraq.
It
was moving to see cancer and Gulf War Syndrome patients of different nationalities,
British, American and Iraqi, share their dreadful experience as both Gulf
War participants and victims.
Papers
Presented
In
a research on the long-term effect of DU on the Iraqi environment in six
selected regions in the south, plant an animal tissues, soil, and water
samples were collected and analyzed. The presence of isotopes of U-238
series in over a third of the collected plant samples was confirmed, using
Gamma spectrometric analysis. Some wild plant samples had high concentrations
of radioactive elements with levels reaching up to three times the natural
background. Average radioactive doses delivered to the population in the
study area via inhalation, ingestion of meat and milk, and external exposure
were measured for the period 1991-96. The dose delivered to infants and
children under 15 years of age represented 70% of the total dose delivered
to the general population. Calculations showed that in areas covered by
the study, an estimated 845,000 tons of edible wild plants were contaminated
with radioactive materials and 31% of the animal resources in the area
were exposed to radioactive contaminants.
Another
study examined the frequency of incidence of cancer diseases as well as
the distribution of different types of cancer among patients (males and
females) in four hospitals in Mosul, the provincial capital of Nineveh,
northern Iraq, before and after the Gulf War of 1991. Cancer diseases were
recorded in these four hospitals from August 1989 to March 1990 and later
from August 1997 to March 1998. The frequency of cancer cases increased
five-fold, with lung, leukemia, breast, skin, lymphoma, and liver cancer
being prevalent. The study revealed that solid tumours were more frequent.
The distribution of the cancer diseases among males and females before
and after the war was different, pointing to a new factor, namely the impact
of the war, and probably the use of DU weapons. In 1996, one of the researchers
reported a remarkable increase in Uranium concentration, especially in
southern Muthanna and Thi-Qar provinces, where the Republican Guards were
concentrated. Notably, before the war the prevalence of cancer diseases
was, in decreasing order of frequency: lung, lymphoma, larynx, leukemia,
and breast. After the war, in 1997-98, the order became: lung, lymphoma,
breast, larynx, skin, and leukemia. A sharp increase was reported in the
incidence of most of these types of cancer diseases: lung (five-fold),
lymphoma (four-fold), breast (six-fold), larynx (four-fold), skin (eleven-fold).
Among less prevalent cancer diseases, the increase is even sharper: uterus
(nearly ten-fold), colon (six-fold), hyper-nephroma (seven-fold), malignant
myeloma (sixteen-fold), liver (eleven-fold), ovaries (sixteen-fold), peri-anal
(twenty-fold).
The
results of an extensive epidemiological and clinical investigation covering
military personnel (all males) who have been exposed to DU show clearly
the radiological and chemically toxic effects of Uranium. The sample (1425)
cases) involved Iraqi military personnel who participated in the war in
southern Iraq. The study covered the period 1991-97, and the age group
19-50 years. The findings indicate a change in the pattern of different
types of cancer as well as an overall increase in cancer, especially lymphoma,
leukemia, lung, bone, brain, gastro-intestinal and liver cancers. The increase
reached a maximum in 1996 and the majority of the cases (averaging 84%
for the period 1993-97 as calculated from the paper's data) are among military
personnel exposed to DU explosions (ascertained by personal interviews).
On e of the most important findings reported in this study is the difference
in the pattern of cancer diseases between those exposed to DU explosions,
compared to those who were not. The pattern among those exposed is: lymphoma
(30%), leukemia (23%), lung (15%), brain (11%), gastro-intestinal (5%),
testicular and bone (4% each), pancreatic (3%), liver and salivary gland
(2% each). Along those not exposed, it is: lung (25%), gastro-intestinal
(20%), leukemia (15%), lymphoma (14%), liver (10%), bone (9%), brain (7%).
The order of prevalence has dramatically changed as a result of DU exposure.
While lymphoma, leukemia, lung and brain cancers are prevalent among the
exposed, with frequency decreasing in the order indicated, lung, gastro-intestinal,
leukemia and lymphoma are prevalent among those not exposed. The higher
odd ratio signifies the close association between DU and cancer cases.
This is particularly true for lymphomas (odd ratio 5.6), leukemia (4.8),
and brain (4.5), which indicate DU as the causative agent for these types
of cancer. There is a lesser degree of association for lung, gastro-intestinal,
bone and liver cancers. The percentage of stillbirths, congenital anomalies,
and secondary infertility in families of military participants exposed
to DU are 1.9, 5.2 and 5.7, respectively. The paper quotes a 1995 U.S Army
Environment Institute report and a 1997 Department of Veteran Affairs report
that "DU has an effect on the shape of chromosomes in terms of increase
in sister chromatid exchange". That was proven through lymphocyte culture
of two groups of people working in Uranium manufacturing in the U.S. The
probability is that DU has a chemically toxic and radiological effect resulting
in infertility, congenital anomalies and low birth weight of babies of
mothers and fathers exposed to DU. The study concludes that the extensive
use of DU weapons, estimated at 630 tons, and the resulting dust and aerosol
of Uranium Oxide caused extensive pollution to regions in south Iraq and
neighbouring areas of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Transmission occurs indirectly
through pollution of the environment: soil, plant, food, animal, surface
and ground water.
Recommendations
and Proposals
·Further
exhaustive studies of health problems related to the use of DU during the
1991War.
·Training
doctors and enhancing needed equipment and advanced technology for cancer
screening and treatment.
·Allowing
collaboration with scientists from countries that were exposed to radiation
from DU or other sources.
·Immediate
clinical and epidemiological screening of all Iraqi citizens.
STICHTING
VISIE