Depleted Uranium Factory Had a Fire

The Telegraph
By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent and Maurice Weaver

A POTENTIAL health threat caused by a fire in a factory producing depleted uranium ammunition has emerged in a Pentagon document.

Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, insisted to Parliament yesterday that there was "no significant risk" from DU ammunition and no evidence linking it to any cases of ill health. But a copy of the scientific study appears to indicate that there may be a much greater potential long-term danger where fire breaks out in an area where the material is stored.

Although the report deals with the subject in general terms, such a fire occurred at the Royal Ordnance Speciality Metals factory at Featherstone, Staffordshire, in 1999. Two unions which believe their members may have been exposed to DU during the fire are demanding investigations into possible health repercussions.

Firemen from two brigades fought to bring the blaze under control and potentially contaminated fumes drifted across nearby buildings including a 600-inmate jail. While initial scientific reports said there was no evidence of contamination among firemen, renewed concerns about the effects of DU have led the Fire Brigades Union and the Prison Officers Association to call for further tests.

Shane Rixom, the POA representative at Featherstone prison, wrote yesterday to Mike Pascoe, the governor, listing four cancer cases among the 160 staff during the past four years. He said Featherstone had the "second highest sick rate" in the Prison Service.

Help Us Transmit This Story

  Add to Your Blogger Account
  Put it On Facebook
  Tweet this post
  Print it from your printer
  Email and a collection of other outlets
  Try even more services