Home | Fax: 81-82-236-2807 | Japanese
	Introduction During the Gulf War in 1991, US and UK forces used a new weapon against Iraq. This new weapon, the depleted uranium (DU) projectile, is radioactive. Unlike atomic or hydrogen bombs, it involves no nuclear fusion or fission, but nine years after the end of the war, adverse health effects from DU exposure continue to manifest among military personnel and civilians in Iraq where the fighting took place, and among US and British veterans and their families. As I traveled through the US, UK, and Iraq to cover this story, I was confronted at every turn by the sad and frightening spectre of "discounted casualties,"- people exposed to depleted uranium and other toxic substances, and now tormented by leukemia and a whole array of chronic disorders. (Akira Tashiro, senior staff writer ) Feature Series: Select a story... US 1 US 2 US 3 UK Iraq Finishing the story Leukemia, congenital defects - 430,000 US troops in contaminated areas		Special Reports[Okinawa]: DU munitions in Okinawa Special Reports[Yugoslavia]: Divided country stealthy invasion by radiation Special Reports[Iraq]: Amiria Shelter Iraqi children attacked by cancer Related Story [US]: Terror of radiation pervading the earth Special Report [US]: Click What is DU? Impact of DU munitions Other Factors -The Persian Gulf War- Map: Primary areas of DU Expenditure(63K) Picture Gallery: The remains of an Iraqi tank (81K) Charred bodies (54K) Graffiti on a punctured vehicle (19K) Highway of Death (51K) No protective equipment (49K) Investigation (40K)
	Feature Series: Part 6- Finishing the Story 1 Spreading health problems - Cancer increasing 2 The deteriorating environment - Spreading radioactive contamination 3 The legal perspective - Clear violation of humanitarian law 4 Movement to ban DU - Collaboration spreading around the world 5 The role of Hiroshima -Calls and actions for abolition Part 5-The Scars of War[Iraq] 1Radiation treatment -Two facilities in the entire country 2 Environmental contamination - Still serious in the south 3 A doctor's suffering - Increasing cancer - All-out effort to save lives 4 Gulf war veterans - Suddenly ill after the war 5 Congenital abnormalities -High incidence among veterans' children 6 Epidemic among doctors - Even colleagues getting breast cancer 7 Near the national border - Still the shells of destroyed tanks 8 Research center - Collecting information to prove damage Part 4-Heavy Burden for an Ally [UK] 1The territorial army- Serving the country, paying a high price 2A husband's death- Increasingly ill since the Gulf War 3Congenital disorders- Harming the unborn 4 Private contractor- War pension denied 5Parliament member's journal - Opposing development in the Cabinet 6 Ministry of Defence -Denial of impact on health 7Science advisor - Impact of toxins on semen 8 Veterans Association- Fighting the country, ready to sue Part 3-Contaminated Earth [US] 1Disclosure-Test firing of radioactive weapons 2Minority residents-Keeping quiet to keep the pay check 3Open air-Denial of atmospheric firing 4The essence of nuclear reliance-The state, the university, the corporations 5Negative legacy-80 years of serious contamination 6Sierra Army Depot-20 times more DU than was used in the Gulf War 7Family fighting illness-Sick wife and daughter Part 2-The Threat in Our Backyards [US] 1Careless dumping - Polluting factory near residential area 2Removal of contamination - High costs-dim prospects 3Death at 30 - High cancer rate in daughter's generation 4An epidemiologist's view - State's highest cancer rates 5Concerned citizens - Grassroots push for a manufacture ban 6Indefinite strike - Angered by the noxious work environment 7Health damage - Cancer, joint pain, and other maladies 8Closed factory - Particles drift over 26 miles Part 1 - On the Wrong Side of a Superpower [US] 1Friendly fire- Body full of shrapnel and bone cancer 2Battlefield tour - No mention of contamination 3Secondary contamination - Wife harmed through intercourse 4A delayed casualty - Suicideafter 8 years of pain 5A 27-minute life - Son born with congenital defect 6Army Nurse -Immunity lost at front 7Educational videosuppressed- Military fears public reaction 8Laws for veterans - Inadequate treatment and compensation 9Defense Department - "Noscientificconnection to disease" 10Lobbying activities - Seeking causes and compensation

(c) Copyright 2000 The Chugoku Shimbun. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.