By By Ken Hanly Sep 14, 2013 in Health Baghdad - The issue of cancer and the use of Depleted Uranium in munitions during the Iraq war dates back to 2004. In 2013 WHO still refuses to release reports and relevant information about the incidence of cancer in effected areas of Iraq. The main author Dr. Keith Baverstock alleges that the publication was deliberately blocked although WHO denies this allegation. Yet history seems to be repeating itself. A WHO-Iraqi Ministry of Health Report on cancers and birth defects in Iraq was scheduled to be released in November 2012 but publication has been delayed repeatedly and now there is not even a release date scheduled. The study even now remains "classified". In an article in the "A US military physicist assigned to clean up the Gulf war battlefield across the border in Kuwait said, "Each round fired by an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft carried over 4,500 grams of solid uranium. Well over 300 tons of DU was used. It was a form of nuclear warfare." " The US government has reportedly pressured WHO on the issue of depleted uranium and cancer. Hans von Sponeck, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations said: “The US government sought to prevent the WHO from surveying areas in southern Iraq where depleted uranium had been used and caused serious health and environmental dangers.” (quoted in Mozhgan Savabieasfahani Rise of Cancers and Birth Defects in Iraq: World Health Organization Refuses to Release Data, Global Research, July 31, 2013) The report that is still to be released covered 10,800 households and contains "damning evidence" according an Iraqi ministry official. The report says that birth defects have risen to a crisis level in those areas of Iraq where weapons using DU were used by the US and Britain. Some of the evidence is discussed in the appended video. UPDATE: WHO has just released an In 2004 a World Health Organization (WHO) expert report “on the long-term health of Iraq’s civilian population resulting from depleted uranium (DU) weapons”, was “held secret” by the WHO. The study was by three leading radiation scientists and warned that children and adults could contract cancer by breathing in the radioactive, toxic dust containing depleted uranium used in weapons.The main author Dr. Keith Baverstock alleges that the publication was deliberately blocked although WHO denies this allegation. Yet history seems to be repeating itself. A WHO-Iraqi Ministry of Health Report on cancers and birth defects in Iraq was scheduled to be released in November 2012 but publication has been delayed repeatedly and now there is not even a release date scheduled. The study even now remains "classified". According to references in Wikipedia, the World Health Organization, states that no risk of reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects have been reported in humans due to DU exposure. This is clearly inconsistent with what has been reported in the documents they refuse to release. A study in Fallujah in 2012 found the highest rate of genetic damage of any population ever studied. However no DU was found in soil samples studied but there was a military assault on Fallujah in 2004.In an article in the Guardian John Pilger reports:The US government has reportedly pressured WHO on the issue of depleted uranium and cancer. Hans von Sponeck, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations said:(quoted in Mozhgan Savabieasfahani Rise of Cancers and Birth Defects in Iraq: World Health Organization Refuses to Release Data, Global Research, July 31, 2013)The report that is still to be released covered 10,800 households and contains "damning evidence" according an Iraqi ministry official. The report says that birth defects have risen to a crisis level in those areas of Iraq where weapons using DU were used by the US and Britain. Some of the evidence is discussed in the appended video.UPDATE: WHO has just released an anonymous short report that finds no increase in birth defects in areas where there was DU employed. A critical evaluation of the report can be found here. This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com More about Who, Depleted uranium, cancer and DU in Iraq More news from Who Depleted uranium cancer and DU in Ira...