Radiation danger raises concern, controversy in Iraq
In light of an apparent increase in the amount and impact of radioactive contamination in some areas of Iraq, and the inability of the Iraqi government to deal with this matter, Iraq needs international financial and technical support to deal with pollution caused by the remnants of war.
Radiation levels in parts of Iraq — including the heavily populated capital — are an environmental disaster that must be investigated and remedied, parliament member Hassan Salem and his Iraqi National Alliance electoral coalition maintain.
The level of contamination actually rises at times as more radioactive remnants of war are uncovered. Children, unaware but fascinated, find and play with irradiated leftovers, such as abandoned vehicles and military equipment. Scrap metal dealers, some of whom are children, contribute to the spread of contamination, and unsuspecting factory workers actually burn contaminated bricks in furnaces for fuel.