MSP pushes for data on health impact of depleted uranium on service personnel and families

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MSP pushes for data on health impact of depleted uranium on service personnel and families

Written by Dr R. Eric Swanepoel Office Manager/Researcher for Dr Bill Wilson MSP

Friday, 05 November 2010 17:37

Following reports of massive increases in the incidence of cancers, stillbirth and birth deformities in Iraq, which circumstantial evidence suggests may be linked to the use of depleted uranium (DU) weaponry, Dr Bill Wilson MSP (SNP) has asked the Scottish Government to look into the incidence of such problems in armed forces personnel and their families. This follows his Scottish Parliament Motion calling for the UK Government not to veto a UN resolution calling for resolution calling on countries using DU weapons to release quantitative and geographical data relating to the use of these weapons to the governments of affected states.

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MSP pushes for data on health impact of depleted uranium on service personnel and families

Dr Wilson said, “I used today’s Health and Wellbeing Question Time to ask whether the Scottish Government holds statistics relating to the incidence of cancer, stillbirth and birth deformities in Scottish armed forces personnel and their families. The Minister for Public Health and Sport said that the Scottish Government did not hold such statistics and that the Ministry of Defence did not break down military statistics by geographical area of birth or recruitment. However, she expressed herself willing to follow up the issue with the MoD.

“I look forward to hearing what the MoD has to say, because apart from considerable circumstantial evidence that DU has had a massive impact on civilians in Iraq, there is at least one case on record of a UK serviceman dying of cancer resulting from DU exposure. A coroner’s inquest on 10 September last year into the death of Mr Stuart Dyson found that his death from colon cancer was caused by the DU he was exposed to in the Gulf War 1990/91. These findings are reported on the UK-based National Gulf Veterans and Families Association website.

“The American Gulf War Veterans Association is equally concerned about this nasty substance. Their website says: ‘Most Americans have no idea that depleted uranium munitions used by the U.S. military are causing one of the greatest environmental nightmares in the history of the world. In Iraq and Afghanistan today, there are some areas that have been so polluted by depleted uranium that they have literally become uninhabitable hellholes.’”

Dr Wilson continued, “Extrapolating from this, and what many others also believe is the horrific impact of DU on civilians in Iraq, I would be surprised if there were not many victims amongst armed services personnel and their families. If we do not ask the right questions, and insist on answers, however, I am afraid we shall never know the truth, and these hideous weapons will continue to be deployed.”

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Dr Bill Wilson MSP

Tel +44 (0) 782 459 6994 / 131 348 6805 / 141 840 2772

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Notes to Editors

1. Details of DU-related death of Mr Stuart Dyson on the website of the (UK) National Gulf Veterans and Families Association

http://www.ngvfa.org.uk/news/newsitem.asp?item=48&from=fp

2. American Gulf War Veterans Association also concerned about DU

http://www.gulfwarvets.com/du.htm

3. Dr Wilson’s motions on DU