There is a controversial report written by two researchers stating that uranium scattered in the former war zones could cause cancer and other health problems. Many researchers and campaigners are convinced by this opinion. But government and the military strongly disagree with the report. Some organizations also call for studies to clarify the link between uranium and ill effects. Now two researchers, Chris Busby and Ewald Schnug, claim that depleted uranium will cause genetic damage to people’s body. Subsequently, they put forward a new theory called “phantom radiation”, which can invoke a well-known process called the photoelectric effect. Moreover, they have done various studies to show that dissolved uranium can cause damage to genetic materials. But responses to this theory are quite different. Some people have positive ideas towards Busy’s statements, such as Robin Forrest at the Uk Atomic Energy Authority in Culham. He hoped that the organizations charged with radiological protection could investigate this further. On the other hand, organizations like New Scientist, Ministry of Defence and the Health Protection are against this theory. These organizations said that they had no plans to investigate Busby’s hypothesis. Now Busby is working with Vyvyan Howard at the University of Ulster on testing the damage to DNA under different gamma radiation and uranium concentration. He believed that this theory could be proved by detailed attention. It seems that the arguments over uranium would continue for a long time. Whatever the outcome will be, investigating it will help scientists clear a lot of doubts about this mysterious substance.
original article: Depleted uranium from New Scientists 6 sep 2008
