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1
Depleted Uranium Radioactive Contamination in Iraq:
An Overview 2
Dr. Souad N. Al-Azzawi
Adjunct professor in environmental engineering
Baghdad/Iraq
Abstract
Depleted Uranium (DU) weaponry has been used against Iraq for the first time in the history
of recent wars. The magnitude of the complications and damage related to the use of such
radioactive and toxic weapons on the environment and the human population mostly results
from the intended concealment, denial and misleading information released by the Pentagon
about the quantities, characteristics, and the area’s in Iraq, in which these weapons have been
used.
Revelation of information regarding what is called the Gulf War Syndrome among exposed
American veterans helped Iraqi researchers and Medical Doctors to understand the nature of
the effect of these weapons, and the means required to investigate further into this issue.
DU is a chemically toxic and radioactive heavy metal produced as waste by the nuclear power
industry. It is used in weapons because it is an extremely hard material capable of piercing
armor.
The synergetic impact on health due to the post Gulf War I economical sanctions and DU
related radioactive and toxic contamination raised the number of casualties in contaminated
areas as in southern Iraq.
During 2003, the invading forces used additional rounds of DU in heavily populated areas
such as Baghdad, Samawa, Fallujah, Diyala, Najaf, Salahuddin, Basra and Nasiriya (again),
and other cities.
Continual usage of DU after Gulf War I of 1991 and during and after Iraq’s invasion military
operations in 2003 increased the DU contaminated areas. Consequently, civilians in
previously contaminated areas received an extra radioactive dose after 2003. An action that
can only be explained as committing unseen genocide among the civilians in these areas.
Accordingly, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have received higher doses of radioactivity than
ordinary background levels. As a result, a multi-fold increase of low level radiation exposure
related diseases has been registered since 1995. An increase of children’s leukemia,
congenital malformations, breast cancer etc…
The shift of leukemia incidence rates towards younger children during recent years, and its
association with geographically distributed contaminated areas, offers strong evidence of the
correlation between LLR exposure, and resulted health damages.
Through this paper, an overview of major scientific DU conclusions will be presented, drawn
from investigations and research conducted since the year 1991 by Iraqi researchers and MDs.
These researches never published outside Iraq because of the comprehensive sanctions
2
imposed on Iraq from (1991-2003). They were published only in Iraqi Universities peer
reviewed journals and two related conferences. Schemes of these researches can be classified
into three categories:
1. DU contamination detection and exploration programs.
2. DU effects on human body cells.
3. DU related epidemiological studies.
1.0 Introduction:
Depleted Uranium (DU) weaponry has been used against Iraq since the Gulf War 1 in 1991.
Estimated (DU) expenditure of 320 - 800 tons were mainly shot on the withdrawing Iraqi
troops from Kuwait to the north of Basra City [ 1].
The use of (DU) ammunition on Iraqi territory never stopped since 1991. Different
generations of (DU) supported Tomahawk missiles & Bunker Buster Bombs [] have been
used during the 90’s on what were known as the No-Fly Zones (Northern & Southern regions
of Iraq), and the 1998 attack on Iraq. Bombing Iraq with DU continued during Iraq’s invasion
military operations in 2003 and after that in all cities resisted the occupation of Iraq [].
With the comprehensive sanction imposed on Iraq in 1991, the USA & allies used these
radioactive & toxic weapons to exhaust Iraq’s strength & population to prepare for the
invasion of Iraq in 2003. Hundreds of tons of (DU) expenditure were also used during the
invasion of Iraq. This was done to make the radioactive contamination situation more
complicated.
For many years the US-UK armed forces avoided any release of information about the
amounts, types, and locations of the targets destroyed by these weapons within Iraqi territories.
As a result, thousands of Iraqi children and their families in west Basra were repeatedly
exposed for long time to DU low-level radiation (LLR). Such exposure linked by some
3
researchers to the significant increase of certain diseases such as congenital malformations,
malignancies, congenital heart diseases, chromosomal aberration, and multiple malformations
in Basra [3]. Women in these contaminated areas suffered high rates of miscarriages and
sterility
Right after Gulf War 1, European and American Anti-DU activists and NGO’s issued many
publications identifying DU harmful health impacts on Gulf War veterans. These publications
helped Iraqi researchers to start a series of exploration programs to define DU contaminated
areas in Iraq, and to estimate the radiation doses people in southern Iraq and the Iraqi troops
were exposed to during military engagements in 1991. Also, to assess the risk level related to
contamination levels in the surrounding environment.
Conducting such researches under the tight conditions and very limited technical and other
resources under the economic sanctions was a serious scientific challenge at the time since the
American and British occupation forces:
• Forbade any release of information related to types, amounts, and locations of targets
destroyed by DU projectiles, and any statistics related to Iraqi army and civilian casualties
after the occupation [4].
• Refusal to clean up contaminated areas as they did in Kuwait [5].
• International agencies were prohibited the right to conduct full (DU) related exploration
programs and risk assessments by USA occupation forces [6] the way they did in Kosovo
[7]. Such an act indicates that these forces are relaying on time to dissipate these
contaminants and the evidence of this crime would be lost. Such assessment with proper
resources, experts, and technology would link with conclusive evidence the harmful health
impacts of the received DU in the bodies of human population.
According to international laws of Geneva Convention all these acts are war crimes and
crimes against humanity because these weapons are causing undifferentiated harm and
suffering to civilians in all contaminated areas long time after military engagement in the
areas [8].
DU contamination mechanism and health impacts
Dr Rosalie Bertell, a radiology scientist wrote in 2006 [9]; when DU munitions hit the
target, they ignite prophetically and generate heat that reaches a temperature of (3000-6000).
This heat causes a sublimation of DU and other metals to form a gas or aerosol that is
considered as (Nano-particles). The Nano-particles can cross the lung-blood barrier and gain
entrance to the cells and create free radicals. This is an effect of ionizing radiation. The other
effect of DU comes from the fact that it is classified as a toxic heavy metal. Heavy metal
toxicity attacks the proteins in the cell which normally fights the free radicals and creates
additional free radicals [9]. This causes an oxidative stress that leads to failure of protective
enzymes, damaging the cellular communication system and the mitochondria. Free radicals
can also disrupt the proteins folding process of (DNA), this misrouting of proteins causes
certain diseases such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes insipidus and cancer. Amassing and
accumulation of misfolded proteins leads to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s
disease. Gulf veterans have manifested many of the symptoms of these neurodegenerative
diseases. Other effects are:
4
- Immune and Hormonal systems’ damage
- Distribution of thyroid function
- Mycoplasmal Invasion to human body
- Tetrogenic Toxicity, where soluble DU oxides crosses the placenta to the fetus. As a
result, damages might range from behavioral problems to mental retardation and
congenital malformations.
Studies proved that the Gulf War I male veterans were twice as likely- and female veterans
almost three times as likely- to report children with birth defects than counterparts who did
not serve in the first Gulf War [10].
In her analysis, Dr. Bertell emphasized that carcinogenic properties of Uranium are linked to
the lowered immunity in the individual where a depressed immune system often changes the
status of subclinical cancer into a clinically diagnosable cancer. Other related important
studies related to toxicity aspects are of Miller, et al [10] [11] , Hindin [12], and Schroder
[13].
Existence of radioactive DU oxides in the environment is a continuous source of exposure to
both toxic and radioactive effects. It also represents continuous systematic attacks on civilians
each time DU oxides contaminated dust storm blows on the city of Basra and all surrounding
area tens of years to come.
In this paper, the genuine scientific efforts of the Iraqi scientists and researchers who tried
hard to define and prove the (DU) related contaminated areas in southern Iraq and its health
consequences under the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq will be reviewed.
Most of these researches couldn’t find their way to international peer-reviewed journals
because of the comprehensive sanctions imposed on Iraq during the Nineties of last century.
Most of them have been published in Iraqi universities scientific peer-reviewed journals and
proceedings of two DU and war consequences scientific conferences (1998, 2002).
It is also an obligation to let the world know that some of these researches cost the authors
their lives after the occupation of Iraq. One of them Dr. Alim Abdul Hameed Yacoub (dean of
Basra Madison College) who was killed, along with his son, when his car was forced off the
highway on the way to his home town of Basra after being attacked and threatened twice at
his home by pro-occupation militias two weeks before his death. They cost other researchers
their freedom, such as Dr. Huda Ammash who was accused of being (Lady Anthrax) and
imprisoned without any real accusation for 3 years just because she conducted very important
research on Iraqi armed forces veterans who were exposed to DU weapons The assassination
of about 500 Iraqi scientists after Iraq’s invasion by occupations death squads and militias
[14]. Thousands of others were forced migratied out of Iraq including the author of this paper
through kidnapping and illegal arrests and threating their wellbeing and lives. This way the
occupation forces prevented any kind of research including DU-related topics in Iraq.
2.0 Schemes of DU related research that have been conducted and published in Iraq
(1991-2003):
5
Researches in this paper are classified into the following schemes:
2.1 Detection and modeling of DU contaminated areas through site measurements and
laboratory tests.
In 1993 the first Iraqi team of researchers from the Iraqi Atomic Commission and the Science
College of Baghdad University [15] [16] investigated with very limited information and
sampling program the increase of DU related radioactivity in selected areas west of Al-Basra.
Destroyed iraqi tanks and vehicles with DU ammunition were still laying around in these
areas. The areas were: Northern Rumaila oil fields, Al-Shamia, Kharanje, Rumaila and Jabal
Sanam. Exposure measurements revealed the existence of DU contamination in the studied
areas. Tables 1, 2, and 3 show the results of these measurement. As we can see from the
results not all tanks and Iraqi artilleries have been destroyed by DU projectiles.
Table (2) Field Measurements of 1993 at North Rumela Area [15]
Type of Chose Sample
Background
Radioactivity*
Sample
Radioactivity*
1
Destroyed Armored Personnel Carrier
BMB-1
8.1
24.6
2
Armored Personnel Carrier MTLB
8.2
9.7
3
T-72 Destroyed Tank
8.7
15.1
Destroyed Rescue Tank
7.2
13.2
Table (3) Field Measurements of 1993 at Shamia Airfield /Khudairat al-Audhaimi Area
[15]
Type of Chose Sample
Background Radioactivity
Level *
Sample Radioactivity *
Destroyed T-72 Tank
7.0
60.8
Destroyed Armored Personnel Carrier
7.2
60.3
Far away area from destroyed T-72 tank
7.1
7.3
Far away area from destroyed personnel carrier
7.3
7.2
Table (4) Field Radioactivity Measurements of 1993 at DMZ and Surrounding Area [15]
Type of Chose Sample
Background radioactivity
level*
Sample Radioactivity*
1
Unexploded DU Warhead (near Kharrange Oil
Pumping Station on the Iraqi-Saudi border
7.4
83
2
Destroyed Tank/T-55 (between crossroads
Nos. 13 and 14)
7.6
21
6
3
Destroyed Tank/T-72 (No. 16107)
7.2
23
4
Destroyed Tank/T-55 (left of crossroads No. 9)
7.4
67
5
Destroyed Tank/T-72 (near international
observation post between crossroads Nos. 12
and 13)
7.6
69
6
Tank/T-72 (south west on Mount Sanam)
7.0
65
* Exposure measurements (Micro Roentgen/hr)
In 1996 Al-Azzawi, S.N. and her team conducted a comprehensive exploration program
through the Environmental Engineering Department in Baghdad University
[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The program involved taking hundreds of exposure
measurements, soil and destroyed targets smear samples, surface water and channels
sediments samples, and bio-samples from vegetation cover, fish, and grazing animal tissues.
Sampling areas of heavy military engagement during the first Gulf War of 1991 like areas of
Safwan, Jabal Sanam, al-Zubair, Northern Rumaila oil fields, and Southern Rumaila Oil
Fields (Figures 1 and 2). The measurements and test were part of the requirement of three
Master degree thesis in environmental engineering.
BGS-4 gamma-ray scintillation counter was used to measure onsite exposure. The counters
were used for 124 field exposure measurements in and around the destroyed tanks and other
military vehicles. High purity germanium detectors were used to test 124 soil and sediment
samples, 58 surface and ground water samples and 158 bio-samples in the Laboratory of
Environmental Radiation in the Iraqi Atomic organization. All tests were done during
continuous visits and checking of UN_US search teams to all the Organization’s activities.
7
Selected measurements from 1996 exploration program results are shown in (Table 5).
Modeling pollution transport from hundreds of destroyed artilleries to surrounding areas
shows the spreading of DU contamination in the area from 1991 – 1996 [17]
- 1718 km² of soil contaminated with DU oxides and particles,
- 140,000 m² of channel sediments,
- 845, 100 tons of vegetation cover
8
Table 5: Selected Exposure and Soil Radioactivity Measurements
From 1996 exploration program [17][18]
Sample
Symbol
Location
Type of
Sampled
Target
Exposure
µR/hr
Activity Concentration in
Soil (Bq/Kg)
Th234
U235
U235 / U
238
S-2-2
Northern Jabal
Sanam
A1
28.6
3918
41.9
0.01069
S-2-9
Northern Jabal
Sanam
T13
30.5
4401
57.1
0.0129
SN-1-2
Jabal Sanam
T1
36.8
11400
183
0.0167
SN-2-3
Jabal Sanam
T2
17.1
2550
47.3
0.0185
S-4-1
NW Jabal Sanam
T4
15.3
3408
30.9
0.009
S-5-3
North Safwan City
T5
16.3
7310
79
0.010
S-6-2
North Safwan City
T6
14.4
2019
36.3
0.017
R-1-6
Northern Rumeila
Oil Field
T7
75.5
27800
375
0.013
R-3-2
Northern Rumeila
Oil Field
T8
58
79100
119
0.014
R-4-3
Northern Rumeila
Oil Field
A4
43
9700
70.3
0.007
RK-1-1
Southern Rumaila
Oil Field
T9
80.8
55700
901
0.0161
RK-2-2
Southern Rumaila
Oil Field
T10
51.9
40900
531
0.013
RK-3-2
Southern Rumaila
Oil Field
T11
42.1
21700
198
0.009
RK-4-1
Southern Rumaila
Oil Field
T12
43
31600
229
0.007
S-7-3
Jabal Sanam
A2
48
3120
25.1
0.008
T: Destroyed Tank A: Destroyed Armored Vehic
9
Risk assessment related to previous measurements showed that people in the western part of
Basrah City, and the Iraqi and American troops received a total whole body radioactive
dosage of (442 – 577) mSv [24] mostly in the first six months of
1991 Gulf War military operations. Compared to background annual radioactivity of (2.4 mSv)
[22] we can see that this amount is about 200 times more than natural and other sources
radioactivity human body receives and what kind of health damages this dose can initiates.
In 1999 – 2000 a follow-up exploration program in the same contaminated area of
west Basra was conducted by (Al-Azzawi and Al Nuiamy, 2001) [24] [25]. The program
included radioactivity measurements of site exposure, soil sediments, water samples, and
laboratory tests. Samples were collected from previously studied areas plus areas where most
of the DU contaminated tanks and wreckage were collected placed on the banks of Wafaa Al
Qaied waterway causing further contamination.
Results of this program indicated the existence of higher radioactivity in some of the soil
samples and sediments from nearby surface water channels sediments in the areas. But in
general the radioactivity was less than that of 1996. Sand storms and the weathering process
contributed to the spreading of these contaminants to nearby populated areas. More than
(127 ) days of dust storms used to hit that area in the Ninties of last century [26 ].
Also in 1999-2000 Al-Azzawi, Maarouf and Al-Mousori conducted an exploration the
possibility of radiological contamination in Ninevah Governorate and its center Mosul City,
figure 5, after being attacked in 1998 by new generations [1] (AGM 154 J50W) of Cruise
missiles on three targets on the eastern bank of Tigris River in Mosul city. The program also
involved checking the extension of Chernobyl plume on Iraqi territories after 13 years [27].
The field measurements using Portable Scintillation Counter have proved that there was clear
radiological pollution in the study area. The measured average exposure rate was11.38 µR.h-1
in Mosul city and 10.11 µR.h-1 in Nineveh governorate. These values are more than the
background level of radioactivity in the study area that amounted to 7.0 µR.h-1.
The laboratory tests have also shown an increase in Ra-226 concentrations which is one
daughter of the decay series of U-238. The tested maximum concentration of Ra-226 in soil
samples was 146 Bq.kg-1 in Mosul city and 107 Bq.kg-1 in Nineveh governorate [27]. The
background level calculated in these regions is around 55 Bq.kg-1. This is an indication that
the increase is due to the pollution of the study area by Uranium weaponry and that the
missiles used to destroy these targets contain Uranium radioisotopes.
The Pentagon kept denying the existing of radiological contamination and the harmful effects
of DU on human population and environment. They also considered the efforts of Iraqi
researchers during the Nineties as (Iraqi Regime propaganda!!). After seven years under the
US occupation of Iraq comes the prove from occupations assigned Iraqi government that all
our work was genuine and credible scientific work.
In the National Meeting on Radiological Pollution in Iraq that was held in Mansur Melia
Hotel in Baghdad in 2009, the minister of environment in Iraq Narmeen Othman presented the
results of the environmental radiological assessment that have been conducted that year in
some areas of Iraq including Northern and Southern Rumaila Oil Fields in southern Iraq after
significant increase of cancer cases have registered (as been mentioned in that meeting) [28 ].
Results of that assessment shows the following:
• In Rumaila Oil Fields where 48 sites were found radiologically contaminated.
10
• Among the 17 stations of Northern Rumaila Oil Fields, eight sites were found
contaminated with radioactive radionuclide.
• Also Phase one of that environmental radiological assessment showed 264
radiologically contaminated samples and as follows:
- In Samawa area 202 sample. 71 of them are soil samples, 10 water samples,
106 dust smear sample. And one vegetation cover sample. Contaminated
samples were 36 sample.
- In Zubair area, 62 sample. 41 of them contaminated.
- In Basra area, 103 sample. 62 samples were radiological contaminated.
- In Nasrya area, 153 sample. 49 of them were contaminated.
Remember that these results came up after about 15 years of our exploration programs in the
area??
Tawfiq, N. F. et al in 2000 [29] measured alpha-emitters concentrations in soil samples from
different Iraqi cities using Solid State Nuclear Track detectors CR-39 and CN-85. Her team
found out that high concentration radioisotopes of (7.8) ppm was measured in Muthana
governorate (Samawa City).
The Dutch troops later in 2003 refused to camp in Samawa City, due to high DU related
radioactivity detected by those troops. After a few days, they finally moved to a nearby desert
area [30]. It was also confirmed that New York Guardsmen serving in Samawe city during
2003 were exposed to DU [31].
Tawfiq research team in 2000, also confirmed that other cities with higher radioisotope
concentrations in soil than area’s background which ranges (1.02-2.2) PPM are: Basra (7.2)
ppm, Nasria (Al-Shatra city) (6.2) ppm. These locations are on the way of the withdrawing
Iraqi troops from Kuwait in Jan.1991, and where they were intercepted and destroyed by US
DU weapons.
In 2000, Al-Gurabi, S. and her team measured DU related increases in radioactivity along the
areas bordering Kuwait and Saudia Arabia. They also measured Northern Rumaila Oil Field
areas and northwest Basrah City [32]. Results showed higher activity concentrations of DU
related radioisotopes in all investigated areas except the center of Basrah City.
Butras, Wartan and Butras in (2000-2001) [33] measured radioactivity in three different areas
of Basrah using Alpha and Beta measuring LB1200 detectors. The measured areas:
A: Iraqi-Saudi-Kuwaiti borders
B: Qurna city, Zubair city, Faw and Umm Kasir seaports.
C: Shatt Al-Arab district in Basra
Results proved the existence of higher radioactivity measurements than background levels of
(18*10-3) mRm/hr in area (A) after 10 years of the war. Umm Kasir area registered (10 * 10-3)
mRm/hr. Normal background levels in the area are within the range of (7 * 10-3) mRm/hr [33].
In 2000, Al-Kinani, et al [34] collected (11) soil samples from Safwan, South Rumaila and
unarmed border zone using gamma radiation detector. Results indicated that (7) of these
samples were contaminated with DU radioisotopes. Sample (SSI) U235/U238 ratio was found
11
to be (0.00351) which indicates highly DU contamination under that destroyed tank. Other
ratios ranged between (0.0041-0.0037).
Dozens of other studies were conducted and published in Arabic or English peer-reviewed
scientific journals of various Iraqi universities. Those published investigation programs were
all conducted by well-known professors and researchers who followed the IAEA and other
international scientific standards procedures. Researches and radiological laboratory tests that
were done in conjunction of the environmental department of the Iraqi Atomic Commission
were searched and reviewed by periodic UN inspection team’s visits and the IAEA teams,
who were checking the activities throughout the nineties until the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Radiation Protection Centre (RPC) as having identified between 300 and 365 contaminated
sites by 2006. Most of them are in the Basra region in southern Iraq [35 ]
1.1 Epidemiological Studies Related to (DU) Contamination Health Effects:
Many epidemiological studies were conducted in contaminated cities to check the existing of
any correlation between (DU) contamination and the increase of malignancies incidence rates
and congenital malformation in Basra Governorate. Most of these studies have been done by
Al-Basra college of Medicine faculty members since 1995. Some of these studies were
published in the University of Basrah Medical Journal. Others were presented in the two Iraqi
conferences about the effect of economical sanction and the (DU) weaponry use against
human and environment in Iraq, held in 1998 and 2002 respectively.
Results of these studies pointed out a clear trend that indicate a correlation between the
increase of certain diseases and geographically contaminated areas. Among others, the
following studies are specifically important:
- Alim Yacoub et al, 1998 [36] [37] presented an analysis of recorded cases of the
registered malignant diseases among children under 15 years of age in Basra for the
period (1990 – 1997). This analysis showed a rise of 60% in children’s leukemia from
1990 to 1997. Also, a 120% increase in all malignant cases among children under the age
of 15 for the same period were registered. The study also showed the shift of age
distribution of leukemia cases towards younger, than 5 years of age from 13% in 1990 to
41% of total cases in 1997.
- Al-Sadoon, et al, 1998 [38] showed a three-fold increase in congenital malformations
registered cases in 1998 compared to 1990 in Basra city. Congenital heart diseases,
chromosomal aberrations, and multiple malformations all indicate exposure to teratogenic
environmental factor.
- Alim Yacoub, et al, 1999 [39] also introduced an analysis of the incidence and pattern of
malignant diseases in Basra from the analysis of the histo-pathological reports of Basra
University Teaching Hospital for the period 1990-1997.
The study indicated that there was a rise of about 160% in reported cases of uterine
cancer in 1997 compared to 1990 and an increase of 143% in thyroid cancer cases in 1997
12
compared to 1990 recordings. Also, a 102% increase in breast cancer and 82% rise in
lymphomas in 1997 compared to 1990.
The records also indicated a shift in the types of the five major leading malignancies in
Basra in 1997 such as breast, bladder, lymphomas, uterine, and skin cancers. While those
of 1990 were malignant diseases of bladder, skin, breast, lung, and larynx.
Alim Yacoub, Imad Al-Sadoon and Jenan Hasan, 2002 presented a paper [40] that
examines the association between exposure to DU radiation and the rising incidence of
malignancies among children in Basra through time sequence criteria, and dose-response
criteria through the geographical shift of the increase of incidence rates in Al-Zubair and
other western areas from less than 5/100,000 prior to 1993 to 22/100,000 in 2000
compared to only Al-Hartha area (north of Basrah) only prior to 1993 (with highest
incidence rates of ( 10/100,000 in 1993). They also tested the biological plausibility
criteria through the shift of the increase of leukemia incidence rate towards younger ages
of less than 5 years old after 1995.
Yacoub et al, 2002, couldn’t explain the reason behind the constant increase of malignancies
incidence rates among children in Al-Hartha district in northern Basra City, figure from (10
incidents / 100,000) to (42.7 / 100,000) in the year 2000.
This increase can be attributed to the existence of the largest electrical power generation and
transformation facilities in Iraq of 800 MW. This power plant was destroyed during air raids
several times first week of bombing in 1991. Nobody measured the radioactivity in Al-Hartha
power plant, which might be also destroyed with DU expenditure.
We must be aware that these epidemiological studies were limited to Basra General Hospital,
which is the education hospital of Basra Medical College. The mentioned number of cancer
incidence cases and congenital malformations would be a lot higher if the studies involved all
hospitals of Basra.
- Abbas Ali & Jawad al Ali, 2002 [41] presented an evaluation of chronic myeloid
leukemia (CML) annual incidence which started to rise from 1995 up to the year 2000,
when the increase began to plateau.
2.3 DU Effects on Human Health Pathological Studies:
Dr. Huda Ammash- Professor of Molecular Biology in the Science College of the University
of Baghdad, 1998, presented a paper on the mechanisms of toxicity induced by free radicals
resulting from irradiation with DU and ionization of the atmosphere in Iraq [42] [43]. This
paper pinpointed the need for DU toxicity researches on enzymes (SOD), Caralase,
hydrogenates and Glyceraldehydes Dehydrogenates levels. She also presented the
multiaborative cases on the DNA level where out of 50 studied cases, 29 cases were found
with DNA abnormalities (with no hereditary evidence). Other multiaborative cases
investigating the toxoplasmosis effect showed that out of 130 cases, over 65% more were
infected than those recorded in 1989.
Muhammed, Z.T. et al, 2002, [44] published a paper about the effects of DU radiation on the
human immune system enzyme. A group of (26) Iraqi veterans who were exposed to DU
13
radiation with (43) control individuals were all subjected to tests for Adenosine DA Amines
(ADN) enzyme activity. Results indicated mean activity of the enzyme of the exposed
individuals of (0.184 ±0.016) U/gm protein, while the unexposed individual’s enzyme activity
(0.291 ±0.022) U/gm protein.
ADA enzyme activity in the exposed individuals were found to be significantly lower than the
control group. P<0.05 significant correlation coefficient was found between ADA activity as
an important immune enzyme and related clinical signs and symptoms related to defective
cellular immune functions.
Ammash, H., Alwan, L. and Marouf, B.A.,2002, published a paper (in Arabic) [45] about the
results of Genetic hematological analysis for a group of individuals lives in DU contaminated
areas southern Iraq. Blood tests for the (47) individuals who lived in Basra contaminated areas
and other (30) individuals as a control group who lived in Baghdad. The research included
other clinical and correlated factors.
Blood tests included hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume test (PCV), total count
(WBC) test and chromosomal changes and defects tests. Factors such as exposure type and
exposure time due to nature of work were taken into consideration (45% of the studied groups
are from Iraqi troops who were involved in military engagements of the Gulf War 1). The
others were civilians who lived in contaminated areas.
The test results of the study clearly showed that a 21% of the studied individuals in Basra
group suffered a reduction in hemoglobin concentration of (9-13) g/dl.
The other 79% of the individuals from Al-Basrah studied groups with normal hemoglobin
concentrations of (12-15) g/dl and (13-18) g/dl for males and females in the group
respectively.
The blood Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test results showed that 25.5% of the Basrah study
group showed abnormal (PCV) rates of (30-39) % less than the normal rate. One male’s
individual blood (PCV) was 3% higher than normal. Other individuals’ blood (PCV) in the
studied group had normal rates ranging between (40-54) %.
Total count of white blood cells (WBC) test results showed that 8% of the individuals in the
Basrah study group have (WBC) less than normal which is 4000 c/ml or higher than the
normal rate or (11000) c/ml. Control group individuals all had normal (WBC).
Compound chromosomal changes in the lymphocytes of peripheral blood of the individuals of
the Basra studied group have been found at a ratio of (0.1118) % which is significantly higher
than that of the control group. The ratio of dicentric and ring centric chromosomal
abnormality fraction was found to be (0.04479) which is also higher than ordinary ratio.
Chromosomal damages were mostly in male veteran individuals. One case was that of a 13-
year-old at the time of exposure in Al-Zubair contaminated area.
From the Veterinary College of Basra University, Khadier, A.A. et al, 2000[46] conducted a
study to detect levels of DU related radioactivity in pastures and animals within the
contaminated areas of Safwan, Al-Zubair, N. Rumaila, Jabal Sanam, Kharanj Village, etc.
Blood samples from sheep and other grazing animals were collected. Analysis of blood
samples using Lyoluminescence and Track Detectors proved the existing of very small
concentrations of radioisotopes in a few sheep that fed from and around the destroyed artillery
and tanks within the studied areas. It is believed the polluted dust on the leaves was the source
of radioisotopes in the tested blood samples.
14
Al-Sadi, H.I. and Sawad, A. 2002 [47] from the Veterinary College of the University of
Basrah also presented a study about the pathological conditions of the animals in Basra. The
study reported the existing of three types of animal neoplasm; seminoma in rams,
mesotheliomas in buffalo, and ovarian cystadenomas in female dogs.
These types of neoplasms have never been reported in these regions before the Nineties.
Also, some types of congenital defects in farm animals have been described.
2.4 Other related studies after the occupation of Iraq
The American and British armed forces used Depleted Uranium weapons during the military
operations of Iraq’s invasion and occupation in 2003. As usual they wouldn’t admit or release
information where and the amounts they have used to prevent the civilian population the extra
exposure to more of these toxic and radioactive munitions. The UK government in 2010
admitted that British forces fired less than three tons of DU in 2003 [48].
The American armed forces kept lying and misleading the public until the findings of a DU
related research published by the European organization PAX in collaboration with the
ICBDUW and George Mason University of America. The research confirmed the use of about
181000 shells of depleted uranium or about 200 tons (Wim Zwijnenburg and Doug Weir,
2016). The research also identified the places where it was used [2]. Maps and illustrations
showed that US forces fired these DU projectiles in most densely populated cities this at the
time, including Basra, Baghdad, Najaf, Amarah, Tikrit, Karbala, Falluja and Baquba, as
shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Areas bombed by DUweapons during the 2003 Iraqi occupation in 2003[2].
15
In 2006 and 2007 technical staff from the Iraqi Radiation Protection Centre collected
environmental samples at four selected sites in Southern Iraq, namely As Samawah, Al
Nassiryah, Al Basrah and Al Zubayr [49 ]. Since no information from US/UK armed forces
defines where they used the DU ammunition in 2003!!because this information were only
released in 2016 [2]. It seems clear that the samples were collected from previously identified
DU contaminated areas of 1991.
A total of 520 samples of soil, water, vegetation, and smear tests, were taken. collected
samples were shipped from Iraq to the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland, which, on behalf of
UNEP, analyzed them using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The
radioanalytical results were then made available to the IAEA to make a prospective estimation
of the radiation doses to the Iraqi population living in the above-mentioned four locations and
the associated radiological risks [49].
The results of that very limited investigation program stated that:
“annual radiation doses to the public that could arise from the various types of exposure
scenarios were calculated. based on the measurements carried out on the samples collected in
this study. The radiation doses from DU were found sufficiently low not pose a radiological
hazard to the population living at the four studied locations” [49].
That means IAEA built their dose calculations on measured radioactivity in 2006, while
contamination in these areas exist since 1991 (because all these areas were included in our
exploration programs and researches in the Nineties as mentioned previously) [17] [18 ] [29 ].
The risk assessment should have included cumulative radiation doses of all paths for the
period (1991-2006) and not as they calculated from the instant they measured in 2006 (as an
isolated event).
Concentration and activity values of the contaminants in these areas also should have been
calculated back to their 1991 values and not 2006 values.
The risk assessment calculations IAEA adopted, depending on the following pathways [49]:
I Inhalation of soil re-suspended by the action of wind or human activities;
II Inhalation of re-suspended dust inside military vehicles hit by DU munitions;
III. Ingestion of soil;
IV. Ingestion of vegetables;
V. Ingestion of and drinking water.”
Remember that in IAEA risk assessment calculations they considered the exposed
population live above these areas??, while dominant wind direction in Iraq and during dust
storms is NW-SE [50]. That means they should have calculated additional doses from
contaminants blowing down from Samawa city on Nasiriya, Basra, and Zubair cities from
1991-2006, and so on of all other cities, check locations of these cities in figure.
IAEA risk assessment missed another important pathways:
a. Ingestion of contaminated meat, milk, and other items of food chain.
b. Absorption of DU oxides through skin and immersion in emitted Radon cloud.
16
During 2004 and 2005, after the US military assault on Falluja and the destruction of more
than 50% of it, tests on city residents who had children or lost embryos suffered from
congenital malformations showed that there were more concentrations of uranium than
normal in their bodies (Alaani et al.,2012)[51]
Alaani et al, 2012 [52] published results have drawn attention to increases in congenital birth
anomalies and cancer in Fallujah Iraq blamed on teratogenic, genetic and genomic stress
thought to result from depleted Uranium contamination following the battles in the town in
2004. Hair samples from 25 fathers and mothers of children diagnosed with congenital
anomalies were analyzed for Uranium and 51 other elements suggest the enriched Uranium
exposure is either a primary cause or related to the cause of the congenital anomaly and
cancer increases. Thus, raised about the characteristics and composition of weapons now
being deployed in modern battlefields .
Chris Busby, Malak Hamdan, and Entesar Ariabi, 2010 [53 ] Published a paper that concludes
results confirm the reported increases in cancer and infant mortality which are alarmingly
high in Falluja. Also, the paper confirms a remarkable reduction in the sex ratio in the cohort
born one year after the fighting in 2004 identifies that year as the time of the environmental
contamination.
Samira T. Abdulghani, Yaseen Taha Sirhan, Abdulsattar Kadhem Lawas [ 54] paper about
“Perinatal and neonatal mortality in Fallujah General Hospital, Fallujah City, Anbar Province,
west of Iraq.” Scientific Research, Open Access.
http://www.scirp.org/journal/OpenAccess.aspx.
Dr Jawad al Ali, 2005 [55 ] published a paper about variable degrees of increased rates of
cancers in Basra, particularly breast cancer, lymphomas, lung, colo-rectal ovaries, soft tissues
and kidneys.
He added that Cancers which show no increase include the cancers of stomach, uterus and
skin cancers. The overall incidences over the year showed tangible increase particularly
during the year 2005.
Geographical distribution: the highest rate was in the west of Basra followed by the center of
Basrah, eastern area and the lowest is at the northern area. The age risk: the data showed
massive increase in risk with age. The lowest rate is for the children less than five years
(11.4/100.000). The highest rate was for the age group more than 65 years
(541.9/100.000). The total incidence rate was 59.1/100.000.
Conclusion
• The USA and UK continuously used Depleted Uranium weapons against the population
and environment in Iraq from 1991 until today.
• Occupation intentionally denied and covered up the types, locations and amounts of DU
projectiles that have been used in Iraq to prevent taking measures that could have reduce
health damages on civilians resulting from the exposure to cumulative doses of these
contaminants.
17
• Occupation forces prohibited UNEP, WHO and other international agencies to conduct
any exploration programs to detect DU contamination and assess the health risks and
clean up remedies the way it has been conducted in Serbia and Kosovo.
• Forbidding the release of any casualties statistics by the health ministry of the occupation
assigned government in Iraq right after the occupation of Iraq is another crime to cover up
the magnitude of human lives losses related to the occupation of Iraq.
• Exploration programs and site measurements proved without a doubt that the existence of
DU related radioactive contamination all over most of Iraq (except the northern area of
Kurdistan).
• Published epidemiological studies in Basrah introduced a clear correlation between DU
related exposure and the multifold increase of malignancies, congenital malformations,
and multiple malformations among the population in DU contaminated areas.
• Other pathological and hematological studies indicated the existence of chromosomal and
DNA aberrations and abnormalities in the 1991 Iraqi Gulf War veterans. Other studies
proved their effects on lowering the activities of the human immune system in exposed
individuals.
• Iraqi researchers’ site measurements since year 2000 revealed that Muthana governorate
and Al-Samawa city were DU contaminated since 1991. This fact was supported later on
by the Dutch troops in 2003. Also by the results of medical tests of the American national
Guardsmen who served in that area after the invasion. These tests confirmed the accuracy
of the researches conducted in Iraq.
• Intentional continuous use of DU against the people and environment of Iraq is a crime
against humanity due to its undifferentiated harmful health impacts on civilian long times
after the military operations. Existing DU contamination in the surrounding environment
is a continuous source of exposure to civilian’s population, and can be considered as
systematic attacks on civilians in each DU contaminated dust storm blown on these cities.
Article 4 of the official regulations and Article 7 of the ICC.
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