THE INDEPENDENT (London)
23 January 2001
23 January 2001
Plutonium clue to 'Balkan syndrome'
By Stephen Castle in Brussels
The detection of tiny traces of plutonium in DU munitions may be the latest clue in the hunt for the cause of the so-called Balkan syndrome.
The discovery, which has strained relations between Germany and the United States, was due to be discussed by European Union foreign ministers yesterday amid continuing fears by governments over safety.
Last week a US Defense Department spokesman, Kenneth Bacon, said some "stray elements" were detected in DU a year ago, and a nuclear plant was shut for 90 days.
DU, which is is manufactured out of reprocessed nuclear material and is less radioactive than natural uranium, was used in tank-busting shells in the Balkans.
However, Mr Bacon said that some extraneous elements discovered in DU "consisted of plutonium, neptunium and americium. He said: "These are very, very small amounts and as soon as they were discovered as indicating a flaw in the production process, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission suspended the operation at this plant, which is in Paducah, Kentucky."
The revelation caught Portugal and Spain unawares, as well as provoking a sharp reaction in Berlin where Rudolf Scharping, Germany's Defence Minister, described it as the "duty of a friendly nation to inform their partner". Scientists say that inhaling one millionth of an ounce of plutonium can cause a fatal cancer
Finnish officials said yesterday their government backs a moratorium on the use of DU munitions pending further tests. Nato insists that there is no evidence of a link between DU and the cases of leukaemia reported by peace-keepers.
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