On Wed, 21 Jul 1999 08:06:41 -0500 (CDT) jf noonan <jfn1 at msc.com> writes:
>
>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.
>
>
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