[CPEO-MEF] DU

[jdknipp@earthlink.net]

Stella,

You asked "has any stakeholder or RAB member encountered DU UXO on their 
sites?" Although not as UXO, the Milan Army Ammunition Plant has had at 
least one serious DU exposure.

A few years ago a woman phoned me about the health of her brother. She 
said he worked at the ammo plant and was seriously ill; his symptoms 
were depression, weakness, and apparent malfunctioning of internal 
organs. She asked if I thought this could be attributed to exposure from 
RDX, a known threat at that plant. I said I didn't think so.

A few months later CPEO had a meeting of Southeast ammo plant people 
nearby (RAB and government). During a plant tour that included a plant 
tour of the ammo historically loaded there, I asked the Environmental 
Coordinator if the APDS (Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot) round (loaded 
with a Tungston Carbide penetrator) while I was commander there had 
subsequently loaded with a DU penetrator; he said yes.

I then called the man in ill health and he said that was what he did; 
they loaded penetrators from boxes labelled "Uranium". At the start-up 
of the project they didn't have the right respirators available, but 
received them later on. He stated that the loading process had 
subsequently been discontinued there and was now being done overseas.

That's all the information I have; I've since left Tennessee, but still 
keep in touch with their "cleanup" efforts. If I hear more I'll let you 
know.

Jim


Jim and Lynne Knipp
jdknipp@earthlink.net