Study Shows Increased Risk of Harm

The fourth study into the Mortality and cancer incidence in United Kingdom participants in the United Kingdom’s atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and experimental programmes.

This new study includes figures from 1952–2017 and is a continuation of the previous NRPB Studies. It has been carried out by the UK Health Security Agency (previously Public Health England).

As with any report, the fine details are where the truth really becomes apparent.

Attached to the main report is a 56-page document of supplementary data which breaks down the figures from the main report. It is the first time this has been produced electronically. In previous reports, this was in paper form and had to be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationary Office (now TSO).

This report was commissioned and paid for by the Ministry of Defence and was independently carried out. Whilst we have been in constant contact with the lead (Richard Haylock) for updates, we have not influenced or tried to impact this report in any way as it had to remain completely independent so that it could stand up to scrutiny.

Background to the commissioning of the report

The report was commissioned after the Medal for Heroes campaign, which started at the All Tests Reunion when Mr Colin Moir stated that he wanted a medal after the audience was asked by Alan Owen what they wanted from the newly created Charity and the new trustees. The trustees at the time decided that we would join The Daily Mirror's campaign and with Susie Boniface, we would petition the government, and the campaign was born. A petition was set up, with 10,000 signatures needed for the government to issue a response. After an initial surge, the petition slowed, until Al Murray (The Pub Landlord) got behind the campaign. Within weeks, the petition had passed the 10,000 signatures needed and the government had to respond.

With pressure from Sir John Hayes,Tom Watson, other MP's and The Daily Mirror (in particular Susie Boniface), who supported the campaign, a meeting with the then Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson was organised. It was attended by Alan Owen (then Chairman), Shirley Denson (widow of Eric Denson) and Sir John Hayes. At that meeting, Shirley told Gavin Williamson "You are the person responsible for killing my husband".

A meeting was held beforehand with Susie Boniface and Al Murray to discuss the strategy and to prepare a list of our requirements, which included ensuring that a full breakdown by test participation was included, we also presented a letter from veteran John Ward.

At the meeting with Gavin Williamson at Whitehall, he agreed to this fourth study. A study on the descendants was also requested, but this was denied.

Unfortunately, Shirley died before the publication of this report and we would like to dedicate this blog to her, she fought for many years, was resolute in her views, was never frightened to tell authority figures the truth and she was and will remain a remarkable woman, forever etched in nuclear test veteran history.

The Findings

For this blog, we are concentrating on the breakdown in the supplementary tables. The report can be very complicated to understand, there are a lot of statistics in the tables. We will be concentrating on the results where the incidence of cancer or non-cancer issues are above 1.5. This means that there is an increased risk to the participant.

Only 22.5% are mentioned in the Health Physics Records.

We must start with the fact that this report shows that only 22.5% are mentioned in Health Physics records, this figure is as low as 3% for Grapple Y and as high as 95.9% for Hurricane.

RESULTS BY SERVICE

Observed cancer incidents

• Army personnel are 2.41 times more likely to suffer from Leukaemia excluding CLL than the control group.

• RAF personnel are 2.66 times more likely to suffer from Benign Brain and CNS than the control group.

• AWE personnel are 3.42 times more likely to suffer from Pleural cancers than the control group.

Mortality by service for non-cancer-related deaths

• AWE personnel are 7 times more likely to suffer intentional self-harm than the control group.

RESULTS BY RANK

Observed cancer incidents

• Officers are 2.55 times more likely to develop stomach cancer than the control group

• Officers are 9.26 times more likely to develop benign brain and CNS cancer than the control group

• Other ranks are 1.64 times more likely to develop benign brain and CNS cancer than the control group

• Other ranks are 1.5 times more likely to develop Leukaemia excluding CLL than the control group

RESULTS BY TIME SINCE TEST PARTICIPATION

• In less than 20 years after the test, personnel are 18.95 times more likely to develop multiple myeloma than the control group. (Yes, you read that right. 18.95 times more likely, it is not a misprint!)

• In less than 20 years after the test, personnel are 4.34 times more likely to develop liver and gallbladder cancer than the control group.

• In less than 20 years after the test, personnel are 8.36 times more likely to develop Leukaemia than the control group.

• In less than 20 years after the test, personnel are 8.36 times more likely to develop Leukaemia excluding CLL than the control group.

• In 20-29 years after the test, personnel are 2.64 times more likely to develop multiple myeloma than the control group.

• In 20-29 years after the test, personnel are 5.11 times more likely to develop Benign brain and CNS cancer than the control group.

SPECIAL EXPOSURE GROUPS

HMS Diana

• 282 men were identified as members of the crew for this study, 377 different cancers were developed by these men.

• Men were 1.72 times more likely to develop Prostate cancer than the control group

• Men were 1.60 times more likely to develop Bladder cancer than the control group

• Men were 1.43 times more likely to develop Kidney and ureter, Leukaemia and Leukaemia excluding CLL than the control group

Buffalo Indoctrine Force

172 men were identified for this force, 169 different cancer incidents were reported.

• Men were 2.23 times more likely to develop Leukaemia than the control group

• Men were 1.54 times more likely to develop cerebrovascular disease than the control group

Aircrew involved in radioactive cloud sampling

98 Men were identified for this group, 130 different cancer incidents were reported.

• Men were 3.86 times more likely to develop Benign and unspecified cancer than the control group

• Men were 2.05 times more likely to develop lung cancer than the control group

• Men were 1.76 times more likely to develop respiratory cancer than the control group

• Men were 1.79 times more likely to develop leukaemia than the control group

• Men were 2.09 times more likely to develop leukaemia excluding CLL than the control group

Decontamination of Aircraft

130 men were identified in this group, 119 different cancer incidents were reported.

• Men were 4.99 times more likely to develop leukaemia than the control group

• Men were 1.50 times more likely to develop bronchitis, emphysema and COPD than the control group

The full document is available to view by clicking HERE

Conclusion

The detailed analysis is shocking:

AWE personnel are 7 times more likely to commit suicide.

Within 20 years of a test:

• personnel are 18.95 times more likely to develop multiple myeloma

• personnel are 4.34 times more likely to develop liver and gallbladder cancer

• personnel are 8.36 times more likely to develop Leukaemia

• personnel are 8.36 times more likely to develop Leukaemia excluding CLL

Within 20-29 years of a test:

• personnel are 5.11 times more likely to develop Benign brain and CNS cancer

Aircrew taking radioactive samples are 3.86 times more likely to develop Benign and unspecified cancer.

Aircraft decontamination personnel are 4.99 times more likely to develop leukaemia

Decontamination.

It is now time for the Ministry of Defence to stop the denial, tell the truth and formally recognise these men for their service. 70 years since the first test, Operation Hurricane. 60 years since Operation Dominic, yet the UK still denies any responsibility for what it did to these men.

Not only physically, but psychologically throughout their lives. The trauma of the testing program, the subsequent effects on their families. There is no mention in this report on infertility that a lot of men reported, unable to have children. This study shows that participation in the tests has a major impact on people's lives, and continues to this day. Fighting for War Pensions against an establishment that refuses to accept that events carried out in the past were wrong, fighting against the veterans in court, spending millions of pounds.

Within 20 years of a test, personnel are 18.95 more likely to develop multiple myeloma, 5.11 times more likely to develop leukaemia. This denial cannot continue, look at the detailed analysis. This excellent report from Michael Gillies and Richard Haylock proves what we have known for 70 years, that participation in a nuclear testing program damages your health, affects you psychologically and continues to affect generations.

Reading the report is hard as a descendant of a nuclear test veteran, knowing that they were put in harm's way, knowing that the UK Government knew the effects back in the 1950s, but continued with the testing program. Anthony Eden's 'It is a pity, but we cannot help it' memo is proof that the UK Government knew the risks, carried on and then covered up the damage to the men involved. We must now recognise these men, the UK is the only testing country still to do so, and this report shows that 70 years is too long to wait. In the words of Ken McGinley, "It is time for truth and justice".