Gina Mangieri
The Army says it has collected and secured radioactive ammunition that was found during excavations at Schofield Barracks. They say it dates back to training rounds fired in the 1960s.
Several activist groups want more information and action.
They're concerned about community and environmental health, and the health of soldiers using it in the gulf. The Army says the items found represent no danger.
They're weapons of mass destruction the Army said weren't used in Hawaii -- until now.
Armor piercing munitions made of depleted uranium. It's toxic and radioactive.
"These kinds of activities are a death sentence to our land and our resources," says Vicky Holt Takamine, Ilioulaokalani Coalition. "It's getting into our water system. We're all gonna be drinking this water, you and I."
Depleted uranium was found during excavation at Schofield Barracks. That's revealed in an Army communication in September between ordnance experts, and confirmed by the Army in Hawaii. But just one month before, the Army told Hawaii Senator Dan Inouye that depleted uranium wasn't used in Hawaii.
"These recent revelations then indicate the Army is either unaware of its D.U. and chemical weapons use or has intentionally misled the public. Both possibilities are deeply troubling," says Kyle Kajihiro, DMZ Hawaii. http://www.dmzhawaii.org/
Today the army told KHON, "The Army has never intentionally misled the public concerning the presence of D.U. on Army installations in Hawaii."
When fired, the substance can be inhaled. It can also be lodged in the body as shrapnel, or contaminate soil or water.
"It can cause bone cancer, leukemia, lymphoma. Also D.U. is a heavy metal, similar to lead, and it can be toxic, particularly to the kidneys," says Dr. Fred Dodge, Waianae physician.
Depleted uranium has been used in both gulf wars. It has been linked to Gulf-War Syndrome. The Army disagrees it causes health problems.
"The Hawaii National Guard, the Army Reserves, and the active duty people in the military need to be tested to find out if they've been exposed to this," says Ann Wright, U.S. Army Reserve veteran.
A bill in the Hawaii legislature would have all vets tested for exposure.
The Navy says it has long stored depleted uranium at its Lualualei facility in leeward Oahu. It accidentally fired such ammunition from Pearl Harbor into the mountains above Aiea in 1994. No injuries to people or property were reported at the time, but the rounds weren't found.