A recently revealed report shows that critical data on over 1,000 troops exposed to radiation was deliberately omitted from an official government investigation on the causes of their deaths. The study, which focused on cancer rates among veterans who participated in nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War, excluded the data and concluded that there was no link between the tests and subsequent deaths, attributing any cancers to random chance.
Decades later, an updated version of the research established a significant statistical connection between service at the test sites and later mortality, though it still could not definitively determine if cancers were directly linked to radiation exposure. Concerns have been raised as it appears that a substantial number of recorded radiation doses were initially removed from the study.
Advocates are urging the Ministry of Defence to cease reliance on the discredited study, which faced criticism for officials demanding alterations to its conclusions. They plan to address this issue in an upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer early in the New Year.
Alan Owen from the advocacy group LABRATS remarked, “Veterans always suspected the study’s inaccuracies, and now we have concrete evidence. The MoD must cease using flawed science to conceal its wrongdoings. We anticipate discussing this with the Prime Minister in the New Year and seeking justice for those impacted by these human radiation experiments.”
The revelation stems from a summary of dose records known as “the Blue Books,” maintained by the Atomic Weapons Establishment and kept classified. The Mirror managed to acquire a copy after a prolonged Freedom of Information battle, revealing that thousands of servicemen partook in the trials in Australia and the Pacific, with over 6,000 having radiation doses recorded by scientists.
However, when the government initiated a cancer and mortality study in 1985, more than 1,000 recorded doses were eliminated from the analysis. This discrepancy led to a notable increase in the total number of veterans analyzed for death rates, while the count of those exposed to radiation decreased significantly.
For instance, John Folkes, an ex-RAF aircraft technician who participated in nuclear tests in Australia in 1956, had his recorded dose removed, despite his exposure during the operations. He now battles prostate cancer and post-traumatic stress, questioning the safety measures provided during the tests.
Researchers defended the removal of doses, claiming it was necessary to eliminate duplications, but the specifics of these exclusions remain unclear. The MoD stated that the discrepancy in numbers was a result of thorough research processes and the unavailability of some troops’ medical records from the NHS.
According to an MoD spokesperson, the Blue Books were only a starting point for identifying participants, and extensive efforts were made to verify records and eliminate errors. Tracing individuals through NHS systems and rectifying any duplicates or inaccuracies were part of the research methodology.
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