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Scotland’s radiation contaminated zone has high rate of cancer

the increase in rates of two types of the disease – liver cancer and lymphoma – is of genuine concern.

A full investigation to establish the extent of links between radioactive  contamination and cancer rates, if any, is now required.

A compelling case for transparency on radiation risk, Herald Scotland 12 Nov 12 The slow drip of worrying news about the radioactive contamination at Dalgety Bay does nothing for the people of Fife but engender fear. Today’s revelations in the Sunday Herald that Government scientists have discovered a near-doubling in the incidence of cancers among people living near the contaminated zone will inevitably cause disquiet locally.

With concern, though, comes frustration – and the people of Fife,
indeed Scotland at large, have every right to be angry with the
Ministry of Defence. If it wasn’t for this newspaper pursuing the
truth about the level of radioactive contamination under Freedom of
Information legislation, the public would still have no knowledge of
local cancer rates. It is better to know the truth, however
potentially unpalatable, than to remain ignorant of possible health
risks….. while the number of cancers found in the local population
may seem low to the untrained eye, the increase in rates of two types
of the disease – liver cancer and lymphoma – is of genuine concern.
The incidence of both cancers is nearly double the level experts
expected. This is alarming, regardless of the cause. The figures have
come to light weeks after the UK Government’s own Health Protection
Agency issued advice to the effect that the risk to public health from
radiation at Dalgety Bay was low. This position does not sit
comfortably with the findings of the Committee on Medical Aspects of
Radiation in the Environment, which advises Government ministers.

Mistrust is growing. The MoD has long played down the risk of
radioactive debris at the beach. Yet, its own scientists have in the
past refused to analyse the contaminated area for fear it would give
them cancer….. What is wrong is the complete lack of transparency,
not only about the state of the clean-up but also the potential risk
to public health….  A full investigation to establish the extent of links between contamination and cancer rates, if any, is now required.
That is the only course of action that will restore the confidence,
long since dented, of the people of Dalgety Bay….
http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/a-compelling-case-for-transparency-on-radiation-risk.19382290

November 12, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, UK