Message no. 1

From:	CLEMENTS@***.OXFORD.AC.UK
Subject:	APDSDU
Date:	Fri, 29 May 92 10:40:00 BST

Crucial point about depleted Uranium....

It is *NOT* radioactive, at least no more than your average lump of granite!
Depleted Uranium is a by product of Uranium enrichment processes. It is,
effectively, the de-enriched Uranium, which has had almost all of the useful
radioactive isotopes taken out of it. It is thus almost pure U238, the stable,
non-radioactive isotope.

Depleted Uranium is used because it is very dense, and pretty hard. It is this
an idea penetrator for APDS rounds. Its incendury propoerties are a bonus.
But, I say again, it is *NOT* radioactive to any dangerous extent.

The added danger of having lots of used DU rounds scattered around, for example,
the Kuwaiti desert, is that Uranium is a nasty heavy metal poison, like Lead
only worse. This is its main extra hazard (aside from getting shot with it
that is).

Dave