Nuclear test veterans cancer risk increased

According to the British Journal of Cancer, the lifetime risk of men born between 1930 and 1960 of receiving a cancer diagnosis is 38.5%. This rises to 53.5% for men born in 1960. (Ashmad et al. 2015)

At the recent LABRATS seminar, 7 nuclear veterans from 3 different testing programs over 6 years (1956 - 1962), were asked by Susie Boniface how many of them have developed cancer. Watch the response:

Of the 7 men, they all have developed some form of cancer. (100%) These men were at the tests at different times, at different locations, in different services, performing different duties. These men had a 38.5% chance of developing cancer, yet 100% had developed it. How can the UK government deny that participation in the tests has not affected their health?

The latest UK Health Security Agency report (published 23rd February 2022) shows that men are:

• 18.95 times more likely to develop multiple myeloma.

• 8.36 times more likely to develop leukaemia and leukaemia excluding CLL.

• 5 times more likely to develop benign brain and CNS cancer.

• 4.34 times more likely to develop liver and gallbladder cancer.

The men were also asked if they had lost a child either through death or miscarriage. One veteran's wife suffered 13 miscarriages. 6 of the 7 men (86%) said they had lost a child.

According to the NHS 1 in 8 pregnancies will end in miscarriage. (12.5%)

Losing 3 or more pregnancies is uncommon and only affects around 1 in 100 women.

Miscarriages and the loss of a child have not been studied by the UK Government for nuclear test veterans. They have never studied the descendants and their conditions. However, the 2020 LABRATS Health Study found that 24.3% of descendants had suffered miscarriages. (57 1st generation descendants & 13 2nd generation descendants). Almost double the national average.

The psychological impact of losing a child is something that can never be estimated. There is no word in the English language for losing a child. It is something that no one should ever have to go through.

Steve Purse (son of David Purse, who was present at the Maralinga trials) was born with congenital birth defects, one of which doctors and academics have been unable to diagnose. He told the seminar that choosing to have a child was a difficult decision:

Always wondering through the pregnancy, wondering if his son would be OK, he is only 10 months old at present, but he will be forever worried about his son's health throughout his life. Always wondering if his father's participation in the tests is responsible. He calls upon the UK government to commit the health resources and research to the descendants.

The study also shows that the scientists who worked for AWE were 7 times more likely to die from intentional self-harm.

The consequences of working with these weapons and the testing program are devastating. Physically, psychologically and continues today and will do so for generations to come.

Conclusion

2022 is the 70th anniversary of Operation Hurricane (the first British test) and the 60th anniversary of Operation Dominic. The UK stands alone in not formally recognising their test veterans. Russia, China, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, France, Isle of Man, and America have all recognised their veterans.

President Biden awarded the US atomic veterans a medal in December 2021. The UK must now, with the overwhelming evidence that is being presented to them, do the right thing. It is morally the right thing to do.

Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester) called upon the UK Government to do the right thing and formally recognise the veterans:

It is now morally the right thing to do after 70 years, it is time to end the storm. Always remember that Anthony Eden, the Prime Minister in 1955 was told about the genetic risks. His response - "It is a pity, but we cannot help it".

The UK government has known all along and has chosen to cover it up.

References

Trends in the lifetime risk of developing cancer in Great Britain: comparison of risk for those born from 1930 to 1960 - (Ashmad et al 2015) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4453943/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage/ - Updated 01 June 2018.