News Article: U.S. Army To Use 'Green' Tungsten Bullets
LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. army is to manufacture and use tungsten-based bullets, rather than traditional lead slugs which are environmentally unfriendly, the International Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA) said. Around one million 'green' bullets will be produced this year, rising to five to ten million in 2000, and up to 200 million in the years that follow, the ITIA said in its latest newsletter. "The bullets, which are used primarily for shooting practice during peace time, are as deadly to humans as their predecessors but less deadly to the Earth," it said, quoting an article published by the Water Environment Federation. "Two hundred million tungsten bullets a year, using an ounce of tungsten each...that makes more than 5,500 tonnes or one-eighth of existing annual tungsten consumption in the world," the newsletter added. Lead bullets tend to cause a build-up in the environment, often ending up in sediments, surface water and groundwater. This accumulated lead can harm wildlife, as well as people if they get their water from a contaminated source. "Although tungsten is more expensive than lead, the clean-up of the manufacturing process will result in savings of $0.01 to $0.05 per round, or $5 million to $20 million a year," the ITIA said.