US dismisses Iraq claims on uranium use in weapons during the Gulf War
Iraq, Politics, 12/4/1998

US Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon stated yesterday that Iraqi claims that use of depleted uranium weapons during the Gulf War is causing health problems in Iraq at present are "completely unfounded."

Iraq has accused the allied troops of using the weapons during the conflict, resulting in an increased cancer rate in areas of southern Iraq.

Bacon downplayed the Iraqi health claims, saying, "If there are increased rates of cancer among children, it could well be that this comes from the use of mustard gas in that area by Iraqi forces during its war against Iran."

He added, "There was a study done, a medical study done of the impact of birth defects and other health problems among Iranian children born of parents who had been the victims of mustard gas attacks by Iraq. The article was called 'Congenital malformations in the progenies of Iranian chemical victims.' It shows that the rate of malformations among children of parents who had been gassed by Iraq was eight to ten times higher than the malformation rate in children from parents who had not been gassed." However, Bacon did not indicate whether the study referred specifically to cancer.

Further, he called into question whether the claims of increased cancer rates in the affected areas are accurate. "I'm not aware of any studies that show that the dust leads to cancer, a higher incidence of cancer," he stated. "It's my understanding that Iraq did invite the World Health Organization in to review the health of children in southern Iraq, that the World Health Organization produced a report which the Iraqis have refused to release."

Bacon said that although the allies used depleted uranium weapons during the conflict, that use does not pose a significant health threat: "Depleted uranium is just that. It's uranium that has had its radiation content reduced dramatically. It is a heavy metal and is about as radioactive as lead, maybe somewhat less so. We don't believe that normal exposure to this creates cancer and we have not found that to be the case. We are still examining the results of exposure to depleted uranium, but in the case of the Gulf War we do not believe there is a link to cancer."

Previous Stories:
  Weapons using uranium shells cause cancers says Iraq   (12/1/1998)
  UN expert in Iraq speaks against sanctions, VX nerve gas results yet to be announced   (10/1/1998)
  Baghdad accuses allies of using uranium in Desert Storm   (7/18/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search