We Need Your Help - New Research Projects Planned

CADU are extremely pleased to report that we have two fundraising projects planned for the next few months. The first is a study into Iraqi children’s exposure to DU. This could give the movement some powerful and compelling scientific evidence to support a global ban on DU production and use. The second is an epidemiological project in southern Iraq, sponsored by the International Coalition, full details in the next issue...

The Iraqi Children's Tooth Project

Following the use of depleted uranium munitions in the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, many populated areas of Iraq became contaminated with fine uranium oxide dusts that are readily respirable.

Despite continued reports of substantial increases in cancer and birth defects there are virtually no data on the extent to which Iraqi civilians have sustained internal contamination.

Everyone has trace levels of uranium in their body, the majority of which is stored in the bones and teeth. Consequently, the primary or deciduous teeth that children normally lose between ages six and 12 represent valuable biologic specimens that can be used to study a child’s uranium burden.

In total, 52 teeth from northern, central and southern Iraq have been collected. these will be analysed alongside 16 North American ‘archaeological’ teeth’ from the 1940s - prior to the nuclear age.

The analysis will be done in the British Geological Survey’s state-of-the-art laboratories in Nottingham, England. Professor of Geological Chemistry, Randall Parrish Ph.D from the BGS will use multi-collector, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC ICP MS) to analyse the teeth for their content of four uranium isotopes. The varying proportions of these will indicate the type of uranium the children have been exposed to.

Professor Parrish will be working alongside Dr Thomas Fasy from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

The project needs $87,000 to complete the study because each tooth costs $1000 to analyse. It is hoped that much of it can be raised in the US, but as co-sponsors of the project CADU will do its utmost to ensure that the figure is met. We are looking for groups that might want to sponsor a tooth. Think you could? Then get in touch.

Read more articles about The Health Effects of Depleted Uranium