January 15 2010 :: The American and British military used around 300 tonnes of DU in the 1st Gulf war and 1700 tonnes of it since 2003. On impact, 70% of a DU shell turns into a fine powder that blows around over the soil and into the water supply. The effects take 5-7 years to appear. The Iraqi doctors are reporting surging cancer and baby deformation rates in many locations with around 25% of newborn babies being deformed in the worst affected areas. Once affected by DU a person and all of their descendent are contaminated. There are about 100 affected sites of which none have so far been cleaned up. Cleaning is beyond the capabilities of the Iraqis and the US military has been so far unwilling to take responsibility.