nuclear-news

Genetic damage in children of nuclear test veterans: an investigation begins

A total 562 Royal New Zealand Navy sailors served the British Nuclear Weapons Testing Programme in the Pacific in the 1950s. Nine times they were exposed to damaging levels of radiation.

A new study from Brunel University will undertake a chromosomal analysis of cells from UK nuclear test veterans and their children.

The best evidence New Zealand sailors have is from 2007, when a study by Massey University took samples from 50 veteran sailors from Operation Grapple. Researchers discovered they had suffered chromosome damage higher than that of clean-up workers at Chernobyl.

They linked it directly to the Pacific bomb testing, saying the result “is indicative of the veterans having incurred long term genetic damage as a consequence of performing their duties relating to Operation Grapple”.

Research gives hope for nuclear test vets families http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/79829038/research-gives-hope-for-nuclear-test-vets-families CARLY THOMAS, May 15 2016

It all started with hydrogen bombs that lit up the Pacific with radiation.

Roy Sefton remembers it like it was yesterday.

Backs turned, goggles on, they waited for the countdown..”And right on cue there was this massive light that came through mine and everybody else’s hands, through the dark glasses, through the closed eyes and what I saw was an x -ray vision of my own hands,” he said.

Now, after decades of battling, New Zealand veterans who watched the blasts from the decks of the Navy ships hope they may finally be acknowledged for the effects the radiation had on them and their families.

A total 562 Royal New Zealand Navy sailors served the British Nuclear Weapons Testing Programme in the Pacific in the 1950s.Now, after decades of battling, New Zealand veterans who watched the blasts from the decks of the Navy ships hope they may finally be acknowledged for the effects the radiation had on them and their families.

A total 562 Royal New Zealand Navy sailors served the British Nuclear Weapons Testing Programme in the Pacific in the 1950s.

Nine times they were exposed to damaging levels of radiation.

Sefton was left with lifelong health issues.

“It appears to most people that I am normal but what they don’t see is the times that I am confined to bed and often for three to four weeks at a time”.

However the Government has never accepted the need to fund a study on the long-term adverse health affects to the men’s families, despite existing research that revealed disturbing results.

Now, news out of the United Kingdom has given hope to the New Zealand veterans.

A new study from Brunel University will undertake a chromosomal analysis of cells from UK nuclear test veterans and their children.

Sefton, who lives in Palmerston North and is chairman of the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association, said the difference is the impact on the health of veterans’ offspring – something that has never been tested in this country.

He wants to see the same sort of study – looking at the families of the veterans – replicated here.

“We need to research our own. Government should finally fulfill it’s humane duty of care and initiate genetic research on our OperationGrapple veterans innocent off-spring,” he said. The best evidence New Zealand sailors have is from 2007, when a study by Massey University took samples from 50 veteran sailors from Operation Grapple.

Researchers discovered they had suffered chromosome damage higher than that of clean-up workers at Chernobyl.

They linked it directly to the Pacific bomb testing, saying the result “is indicative of the veterans having incurred long term genetic damage as a consequence of performing their duties relating to Operation Grapple”.

Supplied

Crewman stand and turn to face the mushroom cloud of the atomic bomb.

And although the research and its findings were upheld by a Government-appointed panel, no further research on the veterans’ families was forthcoming.

Sefton believes the UK research will send a strong signal to all the governments involved in the original nuclear programme.

“It does give us some hope, but it’s going to take three years to do, I may not be here in three years and certainly a number of veterans in the UK and throughout the world won’t be here. And as I said before, for many veterans it is too late.”

But there’s little commitment to the cause from Veterans Affairs minister Craig Foss.

The official comment from his office confirmed he was considering a request for research, and would be looking at the issue during a meeting next month.

May 16, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | children, weapons and war