this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2023
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The use of depleted uranium munitions has been fiercely debated, with opponents like the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects.

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[–] bonus_crab 36 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Using depleted uranium rounds on your own territory seems bad. Especially since ukraine is a major exporter of grain.

Then again , shooting a gun inside is stupid, until someone is breaking in and trying to kill you.

[–] SmoothOperator 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

According to the article, studies in places where the ammunition has been used "indicated that the existence of depleted uranium residues dispersed in the environment does not pose a radiological hazard to the population of the affected regions."

What effect does it have on the grain?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

And an environmental hazard, since Uranium is poisonous?

[–] Womble 3 points 1 year ago

Ok, but the alternative is lead or tungsten, both of which are similarly toxic. So unless you are suggesting Ukraine only fights with artisanaly grown wooden weapons I'm not sure what point you're making.

[–] uberkalden 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Did you completely ignore what he referenced in the article?

[–] AnyOldName3 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As well as being very mildly radioactive, depleted uranium is still a heavy metal, so can poison you in a similar way to lead. IIRC, that's the most dangerous aspect of the material, and isn't mentioned by the article.

[–] Ryumast3r 1 points 1 year ago

As opposed to the other bullets that are also heavy metals.

[–] pizzazz 7 points 1 year ago

Does not compute. Why should depleted uranium have any effect on grain production. Its strong radioactive components are, as the name says, depleted. The only worry is inhalation immediately following impact.

I think there's way too much misinformation about this and way too many people talking without a clue

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then again, shooting a gun inside is stupid, until someone is breaking in and trying to kill you.

Killing the opponent is the last resort in most developed countries.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Even as they're burying your neighbors in mass graves? Interesting....

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

War has different rules.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If there's one country to trust with nuclear safety it's actually Ukraine. Capable engineers and scientists, understanding of institutional failure, and certainly not least memory of Chernobyl.