science
What do we know about depleted uranium munitions? Why is Ukraine trying to own it?
The United States has announced it will send depleted uranium anti-missiles to Ukraine, following in the footsteps of Britain, which sent controversial munitions to help Kiev penetrate Russian defense lines in its slow-moving counteroffensive.
Ukraine will use 120mm shells on 31 M1A1 tanks that the US plans to deliver to Kiev this fall.
These armor-piercing missiles were developed by the United States during the Cold War to destroy Soviet T-72 tanks, the same tanks that Ukraine now faces.
Edward Guest, a nuclear materials and policy expert at the Rand Corporation, said depleted uranium is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process needed to make nuclear weapons. These missiles contain radioactive materials, but they do not lead to a nuclear reaction like nuclear weapons.
What is Depleted Uranium?
Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process used as nuclear fuel or as a weapon. It is less powerful than enriched uranium and cannot produce a nuclear reaction.
Depleted uranium has a higher density than lead, making it suitable for use as a projectile.
“Depleted uranium is so dense that it has the velocity to penetrate the shield, and its temperature is so high that it catches fire on its surface,” explains Guest.
“When a depleted uranium projectile is fired, it becomes like an iron arrow at a very high velocity,” explains Scott Baston, a defense analyst at the RAND Corporation.
And he adds: “In the 1970s, the U.S. military began producing depleted uranium armor-piercing missiles and added them to the armor of tanks to strengthen them. It also added depleted uranium to ammunition fired by A10 close air support aircraft called tank killers. The U.S. military is still developing depleted uranium bombs. , specifically the M829A4 armor-piercing shell for operation on the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank.
What does Russia say?
In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow “will respond on the basis that the West will start using weapons containing (nuclear components)”. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “These munitions will be a step towards accelerating the expansion.” Putin announced days later that Russia would respond to the British move by sending tactical nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus.
Putin and Belarusian President Lukashenko said in July that Russia had already sent some weapons.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the US decision to send weapons containing depleted uranium as “very bad news”. He said that the US use of these types of explosives in Yugoslavia led to a significant increase in the incidence of cancer and other diseases that affected subsequent generations living in the area.
And in a call with reporters, he continued: “If these explosives are used, the same situation will continue in the Ukrainian regions again, and the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the leaders of the United States.”
The US military said it had studied the effect of using depleted uranium munitions on US soldiers during the Gulf War and so far had found no risk of cancer or any other disease. He insisted that he would continue to follow the affected players.
Lt. Col. Caron Corn, a spokesman for the U.S. Marine Corps, responded to a question from The Associated Press last March that the Pentagon supports the use of depleted uranium munitions. For decades weapons, especially these ammunitions have a longer shelf life than conventional weapons.
Although they are not the same as nuclear bombs, the low levels of radiation they produce have prompted the International Atomic Energy Agency to exercise caution when using or being exposed to these explosives.
The agency said use of these explosives should be kept as low as possible with precautions such as wearing gloves. A public education campaign should be organized to discourage people from handling these explosives.
Guest believes that the low levels of radiation in depleted uranium munitions are “a side effect, not a key feature,” and insists that if the U.S. military finds another material with the same density, it will use it instead of depleted uranium.
It is noteworthy that depleted uranium ammunition and armor enhanced with depleted uranium were used in the first Gulf War against Iraqi T-72 tanks, and later in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as well as in Serbia and Kosovo.
Who owns these depleted uranium bombs?
The United States, Britain, Russia, China, France and Pakistan are producing low-level uranium weapons that the International Alliance for the Prohibition of Uranium Weapons says are not classified as nuclear weapons.
A further 14 countries are known to be stockpiling depleted uranium weapons.
What are the dangers of depleted uranium?
There have been many studies and debates about the effects of depleted uranium weapons exposure on battlefields where these munitions were used in the 1990 and 1991 Gulf War and the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
The Royal Society of Scientists, a London-based cooperative, says 340 tons of depleted uranium were used in munitions during the 1991 Gulf War and an estimated 11 tons in the Balkans in the late 1990s.
Ingesting or inhaling uranium, even if it is depleted, is dangerous because it can affect kidney function and increase the risk of developing a group of cancers.
Parties opposed to such weapons, including the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, say they can inhale the dust they produce, while munitions that miss their targets poison groundwater and soil.
But Britain, which has announced it will send this type of munition to Ukraine, says in its guidelines that low levels of uranium dust can be difficult to breathe.
What does science say?
The Royal Society said in a 2002 report that for most soldiers on the battlefield and those living in conflict zones, the risks to kidneys and other organs from using depleted uranium munitions are negligible.
But the association added, “Under extreme circumstances, and under worst-case assumptions, soldiers exposed to high levels of depleted uranium could experience damage to the kidneys and lungs.”
“Environmental contamination can be highly variable, but in most cases the health risks associated with DU are very low,” he said. “In some extreme cases, in some areas we can find high levels of uranium in food or water, which can be harmful to the kidneys.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency said a small number of Gulf War veterans had low levels of uranium in their bodies, which led to the excretion of large amounts of uranium in their urine, but did not cause significant health effects.
He added that studies of these soldiers showed a “small increase (ie not statistically significant)” in death rates, but the increase was more due to specific facts than disease…which could not be related to depleted uranium. “
The UNEP report on the impact of depleted uranium in Serbia and Montenegro also noted the “absence of significant and widespread contamination”.
However, some Serbian politicians doubted this and spoke of an increase in the number of deaths from malignant tumors.
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Director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at the American Mayo Clinic, Dr. Matthew Pinker answers frequently asked questions about the expiration dates of home testing kits for “Covid-19” and their ability to detect new strains of the virus.
Home tests
* Validity of test instruments. At-home Covid-19 tests allow you to collect your own sample and detect active Covid-19 infection. But what if you have expired or outdated Covid-19 test kits at home in your cupboard?
Dr. Matthew Pinker says: Companies arbitrarily plan original test kits; Because the development of these at-home diagnostic tests was rapid. Therefore; Check your tools before throwing them away.
“Now three and a half years into the epidemic, these manufacturers have had the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the test over a longer period of time,” Dr. Pinker adds. “In many cases the expiration dates have been updated.”
Recommendations on accuracy of tests
-If you have test kits at home, search the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for updated expiration dates.
– “If you take a test after the expiration date and the test is positive, this is a reliable result, especially if you have a respiratory disease.
If you get a negative result from a test that’s past the expiration date, “I recommend making sure the test doesn’t have an extended expiration date.” Beyond that, you should get another test or ask your healthcare provider to collect a swab for lab testing before ruling you (Covid-19) free,” says Dr. Beneker.
Tracking current “corona” strains
* Can home tests detect current strains of “Covid-19”?
– Yes, it should detect currently circulating covid-19 strains. The good news is that most of the changes to the virus within these new variants are in the spike protein, the part of the virus that attaches to cells.
“The protein that the antigen tests are looking for is a different protein where there aren’t many mutations,” says Dr. Pinker. “This allows us to say with confidence that these tests should pick up cyclic strains.”
Test results
*If the test comes back positive (confirmed), are you contagious? What if you test positive for coronavirus (Covid-19)?
Often, Dr. Benniker says, “when the home antigen test is positive, it means that this person is still secreting large amounts of viral protein.” “In most cases, that means the person is excreting that amount of virus, and it can be a large amount of virus that can spread from one person to another.” If you get a positive result, he adds. Antigen testing at home Consider risk of viral transmission. If the result is positive, you may be infected with Covid-19.
*But what if you develop symptoms and test negative?
“If you test negative at home and are still experiencing common symptoms of Covid-19, such as a sore throat, cough, fever and body aches, I recommend that you visit your healthcare provider and get tested.” Dr. Pinker says. This is because “the collected swab can be sent to the laboratory and tested based on the polymerase chain reaction. This will give us more reliable information about whether you are actually infected with (Covid-19) or not.
When is the test done?
* When should you get tested for “COVID-19”?
Testing is recommended in some situations, Dr. Pinker says. Such as:
. Symptoms appear. If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or body aches.
. If you spend time with someone who has been confirmed to have the coronavirus (COVID-19).
. If you plan to visit someone who is at risk of serious illness. This includes someone with cancer, the elderly, or anyone taking medications that suppress their immune system. If you’re infected with the virus, don’t get yourself tested right away, Dr. Pinker says. “My advice is to wait a few days and not go straight home and get tested; This is because the virus does not have enough time to reach levels that would cause antigen tests to be positive. “Usually, I wait three days after that.”
. Exposure, then testing. If the result is negative, consider another test the next day or 48 hours later; Generally, by the fifth day after exposure, if you test negative within that time frame, you can clear the virus.
Atmospheric temperature and accuracy of tests
* Home temperature and “Covid-19” testsSince temperatures fluctuate greatly in geographic regions, would these tests be affected by hot or cold temperatures?
Information packages accompanying at-home antigen tests should provide information on storage conditions set by the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Pinker says. Here is a good read. “If you live in an area that experiences subzero weather, such as during the summer months, or temperatures above 100 degrees F (37.8 C), it’s always a good idea to check the package that comes with the test for acceptable storage conditions.
* “Mayo Clinic News Network” – “Tribune Media” Services
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RT
We all know that maintaining oral hygiene is very important and the most important step to do this is to brush your teeth twice a day with mouthwash and floss.
But according to experts, you could be putting your oral hygiene at risk by storing your toothbrush in the bathroom.
“Storing your toothbrush in the bathroom can expose you to a variety of health problems, but the level of risk varies depending on the bathroom environment and your specific habits,” explains Dr. Payal Bhalla, principal dentist and medical director of Quest Dental.
Dr. Balla says that aerosolized bacteria can pose a problem because “when you flush the toilet, especially when the lid is open, small droplets containing bacteria and other microorganisms can splash out and settle on nearby surfaces, including your toothbrush.”
When your toothbrush is near the toilet, it’s “more likely to come into contact with airborne particles and water splashes” that “lead to contamination.”
Bathrooms can also be a humid environment, which can encourage the growth of bacteria and mold on your toothbrush.
In shared bathrooms, “there is a greater potential for cross-contamination as multiple people use the space and touch different surfaces.”
As for faecal particles, which can be on your toothbrush, Dr. Bhalla explains: “It’s possible to have faecal particles in the bathroom environment, including surfaces like your toothbrush. This can happen when toilets are cleaned. Not closing the lid, and brushing can release small droplets of faecal bacteria and other microbes into the air. .To reduce the risk of faecal particles coming into contact with your toothbrush, you can follow hygiene tips such as rinsing your toothbrush before using it, storing it upright, covering it with the toothbrush, and closing the toilet lid when washing.
She also recommends “rinsing your toothbrush thoroughly under tap water before using it” because it “will help remove any potential contaminants. Also place your toothbrush upright in a toothbrush cup and allow it to air dry. Make sure it doesn’t touch other toothbrushes. ” To prevent cross contamination.
Dr. Bhalla emphasized the importance of changing toothbrushes “every three to four months or so” to keep them healthy and effective.
He added: “To reduce the spread of airborne particles, close the toilet lid before cleaning, use a breathable toothbrush cover to protect your toothbrush from bathroom contaminants, and regularly clean the toothbrush holder or cup to prevent bacteria and mold build-up. “
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02:35 PM
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Scientists believe that September 24, 2182 marks the date that the asteroid “Bennu” will hit the Earth, so the American space agency NASA is preparing to undertake a dangerous mission to prevent a collision and save our planet from destruction.
According to NASA, this space rock passes close to our planet every 6 years, but it will have a very close encounter with Earth after another 159 years, and if it collides with us, its force will be equal to 22 nuclear bombs.
Although the odds of a cataclysmic impact are estimated at 1 in 2,700, NASA sent a spacecraft to Bennu 7 years ago to collect samples from it. They hope the data will help them prepare for an asteroid deflection mission similar to NASA’s DART mission, which successfully changed the orbit of the small asteroid moon Temorphos last year.
The asteroid samples will reach Earth this week, landing in the Utah desert on September 24.
“We’re now in the final stages of this seven-year mission,” Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx program manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, told the Sunday Telegraph.
Bennu is about 492 meters wide (about half the size of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs), so it wasn’t big enough to cause global extinction.
NASA estimated that it could have an impact 9 kilometers wide and cause devastation in a radius of about 1,000 kilometers from the crash site.
Between now and 2300 the chance of Bennu colliding with Earth is 1750.
“The raw materials from asteroid Bennu will help shed light on how our solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago and how life began on Earth,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Operations Directorate in Washington.
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