Medical Info Help?

[chknltl]

(This is my first post in D.U.)
Topic: Depleted Uranium Poison Testing for civilians.
Does anyone know where a civilian can go to get tested for possible poisoning from depleted uranium munitions?

I have a friend who chose to go to Iraq as a civilian working with the Stryker(sp?)-Brigade. He has been there for 6 months and now he is coming home. I plan to show him what data I have collected on the topic of Depleted Uranium Poisoning. Then, if he is willing, I will take him to be tested. I just do not know where the best places are to do this testing.
I never supported his decision to go off to Iraq and I won't argue with anyone here who says "he made his own bed...", but he IS a friend nonetheless. Suggestions?

[SoCalDem]

1. Start with his family doctor. The Dr. might have connections to

a lab that could test him..or might refer him to an endocrinologist..(They LOVE tests)

Good luck to him.. I hope he does not plan to have a child anytime soon. The toxicity can alter DNA and reproductive systems and pass on horrific birth defects.

[chknltl]

2. Thank You

That is what I will likely do then. I am wondering if perhaps a medical university might be of some help here? Do they do that sort of thing with walk ins?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Link.... important... go to it and read, print, understand.

http://search.lef.org/src-cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=19&EXTRA_ARG=&CFGNAME=MssFind%2Ecfg&host_id=42&page_id=14549248&query=gulf+war&hiword=gulf+war+

Gulf War syndrome (GWS), affecting a number of men and women who served in the Persian Gulf War, represents a group of medical and psychological complaints, including fatigue, respiratory illness, muscular pain, spasms, skin rash, memory loss, dizziness, peripheral numbness, and sleep disturbances. A 1996 VA study (Kang et al. 1996) reported that Gulf War veterans were 50% more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than military personnel not sent to the Gulf War. Robert W. Haley, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, reported similar findings but added in an article published by the Associated Press that the Gulf War veteran also has a higher rate of depression and suicide. Haley correlated these findings medically with individuals who have sustained brain injuries (Haley 1997; 1998; Haley et al. 1997a; 1997b).

[ancient_nomad]

4. Welcome to DU

A big welcome,chknltl....:toast:

Here is some info on DU(depleted uranium) that I bookmarked. I've enclosed the links and hope you find them helpful. All best wishes to your friend.

From: Soldiers: Army Ignores Illness Complaints - Depleted Uranium

By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press Writer April 9, 2004

NEW YORK - Six soldiers who have fallen ill since their return from Iraq (news - web sites) said Friday that the Army ignored their complaints about uranium poisoning from U.S. weapons fired during combat.

They also said they were denied testing for the radioactive substance.

"We were all healthy when we left home. Now, I suffer from headaches, fatigue, dizziness, blood in the urine, unexplained rashes," said Sgt. Jerry Ojeda, 28, who was stationed south of Baghdad with other National Guard members of the 442nd Military Police Company.

For the entire article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Soldier-Testing.html

By JUAN GONZALEZ DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Saturday, April 3rd, 2004

Four soldiers from a New York Army National Guard company serving in Iraq are contaminated with radiation likely caused by dust from depleted uranium shells fired by U.S. troops, a Daily News investigation has found.

They are among several members of the same company, the 442nd Military Police, who say they have been battling persistent physical ailments that began last summer in the Iraqi town of Samawah.

"I got sick instantly in June," said Staff Sgt. Ray Ramos, a Brooklyn housing cop. "My health kept going downhill with daily headaches, constant numbness in my hands and rashes on my stomach."

A nuclear medicine expert who examined and tested nine soldiers from the company says that four "almost certainly" inhaled radioactive dust from exploded American shells manufactured with depleted uranium.

Laboratory tests conducted at the request of The News revealed traces of two manmade forms of uranium in urine samples from four of the soldiers.

For the entire article, go to: http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/180333p-156685c.html

Here's a link to the Depleted Uranium Education Project...
http://www.iacenter.org/depleted/du.htm

And some info on testing...from this site:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/health/information/med_vaccs/engraph/DU_FactSheet_e.asp

# Our test consists of two parts involving urine and hair samples. Individuals are asked to submit two 24 hour urine collections that are sent to two separate laboratories for a total uranium analysis (the isotope U-238). Each lab acts as a quality assurance for the other. We also ask each individual to submit a 100 mg hair sample to one of the labs for a uranium isotope analysis (isotope U-238/U-235). This indicates if the individual has ever been exposed to depleted uranium. The tests will show the total uranium level that individuals excrete in their urine and if they have ever been exposed to depleted uranium. These are two very separate issues.
# Two different methodologies are used. The first is an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and the second is instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The hair is analyzed using ICP-MS. The testing equipment is very sophisticated and those who operate it require the necessary expertise to use it. Interpretation of patients' data is done by Dr Ed Ough, a scientist at RMC.
# The tests indicate the total uranium present and they are very reliable. The tests also provide an isotope ratio that is very reliable. It should be noted that all humans have uranium in their bodies. Exposure to very small amounts of uranium ten years ago may not be reflected in an isotope ratio conducted a decade later because we excrete uranium in our urine daily; however, exposure to such a small amount would not constitute a health hazard.
# Testing is "batched" by the labs and results are usually available in 4-6 weeks.
# Cost for the complete battery of testing is about $800.00 per individual.

Again...all best wishes!

[chknltl]

6. Thank You, 4 MoronicYears and ancient_nomad.....

I have a good size file about "DU munitions" now, you have both given me new links which look very promising. I have my work cut out for me I see. I will spend most of the rest of the night there. Thank you very much again.

[orleans]

5. welcome to DU!

i was gonna suggest to start with the family doctor, but i see it's already been suggested. if your friend has the various symptoms (already posted also) and if a family doctor can't help, maybe a hospital emergency room would help him out or admit him for further tests.

best of luck to you and your friend.

(did you sign the letter? here's the link)

[chknltl]

7. Thank you orleans...

yes I voted but thanks for asking, (keep on asking everyone). (I got Rep. Conyers link added to my responses as well). My friend knows nothing of this as of yet and has mentioned no symptoms. I just want to see him informed and tested. Just as a precautionary.

[chknltl]

8. small edit: My first "TOPIC" post and i gotta go to work now . nt

[jwirr]

9. What you need to know most is that

you should go to your local doctors because the military/VA connected hospitals may "ignore" your problems. When the Vietnam vets got home and need care for agent orange, their records were often missing. When my son-in-law came home I warned him about this so he "took" copies of all his records from the base he was discharged from. Sure enough his papers were missing when he went to VA. He then went to a local doctor for the help he needed and went to the local VA rep. to contest the disability findings. When he showed the rep. the copied papers he said, "This one I am going to win." The military does not like to pay for health care when they can avoid it.