No radiation illnesses

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 6

No radiation illnesses

PA Wellington No obvious radiation-re-lated illnesses have been revealed among 60 of the New Zealand servicemen who observed British nuclear tests at Christmas Island in the late 19505. The 60 servicemen are among 300 who have responded to a' Returned Services’ Association survey on health effects.

The R.SA general secretary, Mr Don Quigley, said yesterday that New Zealand servicemen observed the tests from the frigates Rotoiti and Pukaki and that a number of airmen flew in the area.

He said the frigates did meteorological tests and were stationed well away from the blasts although one steamed into the area under the

Mr Quigley said the responses so far had not revealed any obvious radia-tion-related illnesses but the main object so far had been to establish contact with the former servicemen so that they could be sent a full medical questionnaire. The 60 respondents had reported various disabilities but many of these could be constitutional problems related to growing old. The request came after a controversy in Britain over claims that British servicemen had suffered ill effects from radiation exposure during the tests. According to a Birmingham University survey, a number bf British servicemen suffered cataracts of the eye at an unusually young age and a higher than expected incidence of skin 1