Uranium tests for veterans proposed (Minn.)

[donsu]

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1112856.html

A Senate committee OK'd a bill providing for testing veterans to see if dust from spent-uranium munitions has harmed them.

-snip-

A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a proposal to spend $1 million to test more than 800 veterans for exposure to depleted uranium, which the U.S. military has used to harden shells and other munitions for piercing armor.

The legislation puts Minnesota at the forefront of a gradual movement by states -- whose National Guard members and reservists have contributed heavily to the wars -- to improve testing for uranium and determine its long-term consequences.

-snip-

Proponents of sophisticated testing say an existing test used by the federal government is inadequate for detecting toxic levels of depleted uranium and not always readily available to veterans. They argue that states need to take the initiative in behalf of returning National Guard members and reservists. Connecticut and Louisiana have already passed such legislation.

-snip-

"Don't wait for scientific certainty," added Francis, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate last year as a DFLer. "The health risk of Agent Orange and second-hand smoke were ignored far too long, and people died. Do not rely on the federal government or the Department of Defense."

The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee sent the proposal to the Senate Finance Committee.
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I recently posted an article that said only one lab (in Norway?) could do the testing and each test cost over 1 thousand dollars

the neo cons don't want labs to test and will stop and or infiltrate them

[jwirr]

1. As a Minnesotan I am all for that.

[MasonJar]

2. We should stop using these vicious weapons and then pay to test

every single Iraqi. Then we and Britain and Australia and Italy and of course Poland should pay to clean up the whole land.