DOCSLIB.ORG

Leonard Abdale and Others

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Leonard Abdale and Others IN THE FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL WPAFCC Refs: as below WAR PENSIONS AND ARMED FORCES COMPENSATION CHAMBER Sitting at Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL Date: 16th December 2016 TRIBUNALS COURTS AND ENFORCEMENT ACT 2007 TRIBUNAL PROCEDURE (FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL) (WAR PENSIONS AND ARMED FORCES COMPENSATION CHAMBER) RULES 2008 BEFORE: THE HON MR JUSTICE BLAKE MRS I MCCORD DR J RAYNER BETWEEN 1. LEONARD ABDALE (Deceased) ENT/00203/2015 2. DARRYL BEETON ENT/00202/2015 3. TREVOR BUTLER (Deceased) ENT/00258/2015 4. DEREK HATTON (Deceased) ENT/00200/2015 5. ERNEST HUGHES ENT/00254/2015 6. BRIAN LOVATT ENT/00201/2015 7. DAWN PRITCHARD (Deceased) ENT/00258/2015 8. LAURA SELBY ENT/00199/2015 9. DENIS SHAW (Deceased) ENT/00253/2015 10. JEAN SINFIELD ENT/00204/2015 11. DONALD BATTERSBY (Deceased) ENT/00250/2015 12. ANNA SMITH ENT/00251/2015 Appellants - and - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE Respondent Hearing Dates: 13 to 30 June 2016 Representation: Roger Ter Haar QC and Richard Sage (instructed pro bono by HOGAN LOVELLS) for Appellants 1 to 10. Christopher Busby, Hugo Charlton and Cecilia Busby acting as pro bono lay representatives for Appellants 11-12. Adam Heppinstall and Abigail Cohen instructed by the Government Legal Department for the Respondent. TRIBUNAL’S DECISION AND REASONS The unanimous DECISION of the Tribunal is: the appeal of each appellant is dismissed save for the appeal of Leonard Abdale deceased in respect of his claim for cataracts. On this issue his appeal is allowed. INDEX TO DETERMINATION PART ONE INTRODUCTION p.5 Outline of the issues [1] Litigation history [17] The applicable law [32] The further evidence [34] PART TWO SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND p.20 Nuclear Physics [43] Radioactive Exposure [68] Measurement of dose [76] Protection of health from radiation [100] PART THREE THE UK TESTS AT MARALINGA AND CHRISTMAS ISLAND p.35 The Australia tests [111] Operation Buffalo, Maralinga [125] The Grapple tests [150] 2 Grapple X [163] Grapple Y [166] Grapple Z [202] Radiological measurement of Grapple tests [207] PART FOUR THE BS CHALLENGE TO THE ICRP RISK MODEL p.66 Introduction [226] BS witnesses [228] BS Challenge to ICRP [235] BS submissions on uranium [261] Conclusions on the BS challenge to ICRP [292] PART FIVE MR HALLARD’S EVIDENCE p.104 Expertise [302] Function of Secretary of State’s evidence [314] Hallard’s approach to dose assessment [316] Appellants’ response to Hallard [335] Conclusions on issues relating to dose [347] PART SIX THE HL APPPELLANTS CASE p.130 Wahab and Rowland [358] Conclusions on New Zealand veterans [389] Epidemiology [398] Professor Mothersill [414] PART SEVEN THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF THE VETERANS p.151 Introduction [438] Leonard Abdale [445] Barry John Smith [488] 3 Donald Battersby [511] Herbert Sinfield [524] Gwilym Pritchard [537] Charles Selby [560] Derek Hatton [572] Trevor Butler [580] Ernest Hughes [594] Brian Lovatt [610] Dennis Shaw [617] PART EIGHT CONCLUSIONS p.186 Introduction [623] LNT model of assessing health risk [632] Exposure on Christmas Island [639] Maximum Dose [652] Overall Conclusions [664] ANNEX A 15 June ruling p.202 4 PART ONE: INTRODUCTION Outline of the issues in these appeals: 1. Each of these appeals is brought by or on behalf of former members of the armed forces (the veterans) who took some part in the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons conducted by the United Kingdom between 1952 and 1958. Of the twelve veterans all but three have died and the appeals of the deceased veterans are brought or pursued by their widows or other family members. Each appeal concerns a claim to a war pension by reason of a specific medical condition that is claimed to have arisen as a consequence of service in this test programme. 2. The UK test programme started in October 1952 off the coast of Western Australia (Operations Hurricane, Totem and Mosaic)1. 3. In September 1956 the Buffalo series of tests took place at the Maralinga Range, a desert area in South Australia. Of the twelve veterans with which these appeals are concerned only Donald Battersby served at Maralinga. He did so as a member of the RAF between 26 July and 19 November 1956 when he was aged 20. In 2005 he was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). He was also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but this appeal is not concerned with a claim for that condition. 4. All the other veterans served at Christmas Island (Kiritimati), a coral island about 60 kilometres long and between 6 and 30 kilometres wide that is located a few degrees north of the Equator, in what is now the Republic of Kiribati. At the time it was selected for the tests Kiritimati was an uninhabited island, although a few hundred people from the indigenous population of the surrounding islands (the Gilbertese) came to Port London in the north west of the island to work under labour contracts and were subject to the supervision of the British authorities. 5. Between May and June 1957 there were three tests in the Grapple Series over the ocean off Malden Island in the Pacific Ocean, some 700 kilometres from Christmas Island (CI). 6. On 8 November 1957 the next detonation in the Grapple series took place; Grapple X was a high altitude air burst over the ocean just off CI. 1 An informative history of the test programme was supplied to us in the form of extracts from Laura Arnold ‘Britain and the Bomb’ (2001) Palgrave (SB 17/5, 6, and 7). The full text was available in the FTT Bundle B7/34 5 7. On 28 April 1958, the most powerful detonation in the whole series took place; Grapple Y, another air drop at high altitude (estimated at 2500 metres or 8100 feet) with an explosive yield of 3 megatons. The detonation point was over the ocean 1.5 kilometres off the south eastern tip of CI, some 35 kilometres from the main camp and the neighbouring populated area of the island in the north west of the island. 8. Between August and September 1958, four smaller detonations completed the Grapple series, collectively known as Grapple Z. Two of these (Pennant and Burgee) were airbursts over land on Christmas Island detonated at 450 metres from a balloon with yields of 24 and 25 kilotons respectively. The other two (Flagpole and Halliard) were air dropped over the ocean off CI at heights of 2800 metres and with yields of 1 and 0.8 megatons respectively. 9. Thereafter, British testing of nuclear weapons was halted pending the making of an international treaty where signatory states agreed to stop such atmospheric testing. 10. Following the last British test on 23 September 1958, CI was used by the US Government for a series of high yield nuclear tests known as Operation Dominic between 1962 and 1964. Thereafter the military base was abandoned. There were various clean-up operations following the conclusion of British and US testing. 11. The veterans who were stationed on CI are as follows2. We set out here brief details of their service and medical conditions. Greater examination will be given to their medical conditions in Part Seven. (i) Leonard Abdale was at CI from 15 January 1958 to 29 November 1958 aged 22 to 23. He was thus on the island at the time of Grapple Y and the Grapple Z detonations. He served as a wireless operator at the Joint Operation Centre at the Main Camp. In 2000 and 2001 he had operations for cataracts and in 2006 was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He made a claim for both conditions in 2009. (ii) Daryl Beeton served at CI from 27 August 1957 to 10 August 1958. He was aged 19 to 20 and would have been there for the Grapple X and Y detonations only. He served as a Leading Aircraftman and had duties as a cook at the kitchens at the Port and Main camps. In 2001 and 2003 he had myocardial infarctions and had a coronary artery 2 The following data has been abstracted from the medical and service history documentation before us 6 bypass graft in 2008. The underlying disease process was assessed as atherosclerosis. (iii) Trevor Butler served at CI from 30 December 1957 to 12 December 1958 when he was aged 19 to 20. He was also there for the Grapple Y and Z detonations. He was a field engineer with the Royal Engineers. In 2006 he was diagnosed with a range of non­ carcinogenic conditions including immune system dysfunction. (iv) Derek Hatton served at CI from 21 August 1958 to 15 August 1959 aged 19 to 20. He served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. In 2007 he was diagnosed with polycythaemia rubra vera (PRV). (v) Ernest Hughes served at CI as a ground wireless fitter with the RAF from 29 October 1956 to 10 September 1957 when aged 22 to 23. He was thus only present during the early Grapple series 700 kilometres away and had left the area before Grapple X and Y. In 1991 he was diagnosed with myocardial infarction and in 2006 with bladder cancer. (vi) Brian Lovatt served at CI in the RAF from 9 September 1957 to 9 June 1958 aged 20. He was therefore present at the time of Grapple X and Y. In 2005 he was diagnosed with atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. (vii) William Pritchard served at CI as an RAF telegraphist between 24 January and 28 August 1958 at the time of Grapple Y and the first of the Grapple Z tests. He was then posted 330 kilometres away before returning to CI between 3 October and 28 November 1958.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Appendix E Latvia 1/23 Appendix E Latvia 2/23
    Appendix E Latvia 1/23 Appendix E Latvia 2/23 Atklātā vēstule Vides Pārraudzības Valsts Birojam sakarā ar Zviedrijā, Forsmark, plānoto kodolatkritumu kapsētu radioaktīvā piesārņojuma eksistenciālajiem draudiem dzīvai videi Batijas Jūras Reģionā saskaņā ar 1991.gada Espoo konvencijas “Par ietekmes uz vidi novērtējumu pārrobežu kontekstā” 4. un 5 panta prasībām un Zviedrijas Vides aizsardzības aģentūra paziņojumu par izstrādāto ietekmes uz vidi novērtējuma ziņojumu un tā sabiedrisko apspriešanu Arī kā PDF pielikumā Sakarā ar to, ka kļūdu summa ekoloģiskās drošības sistēmā, kā arī sociālās un ekonomiskās drošības sistēmās, ir novedusi cilvēci līdz eksistenciālam riskam, kā arī tamdēļ, ka esam klātienē sekojuši Forsmark un Oskarshamn kodolatkritumu kapsētu projektu izveides procesam, ziņojam ka tā profesionālā uzticamība ir absolūta ilūzija projekta visos līmeņos un dimensijās. Kodolatkritumu kapsētas tiek plānotas pēc KBS-3 metodes 1) pašā Baltijas jūras krastā, burtiski – jūrā, neviena vieta sauszemē nav atrasta jo visas citas pašvaldības ir atteikušās kodolatkritumus pieņemt – tikai AES pašvaldības piekritušas jo ir jau gadu desmitiem korumpētas, 2) celt vēsturiski seismiski ļoti aktīvā zonā, 3) klintīs kas ir ūdenscauralidīgas plaisu dēļ, un piedzīvo arī metāna gazes atsalšanas detonācijas, 4) atkritumi tiktu likti kapara cilindros kas rūsē jau pēc 100 gadiem un pārsprāgtu arī no gāzēm, 5) bentonīta māls ap cilindriem izplūdes nenotur, bet pat lieliski iznēsā uz plašajām daļiņu virsmām, 6) urbumu 500 m dziļums ir nepietiekošs un radiācija
    [Show full text]
  • Developing an Intergovernmental Nuclear Regulatory Organization
    Developing an Intergovernmental Nuclear Regulatory Organization: Lessons Learned from the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Telecommunication Union Clarence Eugene Carpenter, Jr. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, May 1988 Seattle University, Seattle, WA Master of Science in Technical Management, May 1997 The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD Master of Arts in International Science and Technology Policy, May 2009 The George Washington University, Washington, DC A Dissertation submitted to The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 10, 2020 Dissertation directed by Kathryn Newcomer Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University certifies that Clarence Eugene Carpenter, Jr. has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as of November 26, 2019. This is the final and approved form of the dissertation. Developing an Intergovernmental Nuclear Regulatory Organization: Lessons Learned from the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Telecommunication Union Clarence Eugene Carpenter, Jr. Dissertation Research Committee: Kathryn Newcomer, Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration, Dissertation Director Philippe Bardet, Assistant Professor,
    [Show full text]
  • Grappling with the Bomb: Britain's Pacific H-Bomb Tests
    Timeline and glossary Nuclear timeline, 1945–1963 16 July 1945 Alamogordo, United States conducts first-ever nuclear New Mexico, USA test, codenamed ‘Trinity .’ 6 August 1945 Hiroshima, Japan US aircraft Enola Gay drops the atomic weapon ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people immediately and an estimated 100,000 people within six months . 9 August 1945 Nagasaki, Japan US aircraft Bockscar drops the atomic weapon ‘Fat Man’ on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 people immediately and tens of thousands in following months . 30 June 1946 Bikini Atoll, Marshall Under Operation Crossroads, United Islands States conducts the first of two atomic tests at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. ‘Able’ and ‘Baker’ are the first of 67 atmospheric tests in the Marshall Islands between 1946–1958 . 6 August 1948 Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima’s first Peace Festival. 29 August 1949 Semipalatinsk, USSR conducts first atomic test Kazakhstan RDS-1 in Operation Pervaya molniya (Fast lightning), dubbed ‘Joe-1’ by United States . 1950–1954 Korean peninsula United States, Britain and Australia, under a United Nations mandate, join military operations in Korea following clashes between forces from the south and north of Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic is backed by the newly created People’s Republic of China . 3 October 1952 Monte Bello Islands, Under Operation Hurricane, United Western Australia Kingdom begins its nuclear testing program in Australia with a 25 kiloton atomic test . xi GRAPPLING WITH THE BOMB 1 November 1952 Bikini Atoll, Marshall United States conducts its first Islands hydrogen bomb test, codenamed ‘Mike’ (10 .4 megatons) as part of Operation Ivy .
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of Military Nuclear Strategy And
    The Development of Military Nuclear Strategy and Anglo-American Relations, 1939 – 1958 Submitted by: Geoffrey Charles Mallett Skinner to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History, July 2018 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. (Signature) ……………………………………………………………………………… 1 Abstract There was no special governmental partnership between Britain and America during the Second World War in atomic affairs. A recalibration is required that updates and amends the existing historiography in this respect. The wartime atomic relations of those countries were cooperative at the level of science and resources, but rarely that of the state. As soon as it became apparent that fission weaponry would be the main basis of future military power, America decided to gain exclusive control over the weapon. Britain could not replicate American resources and no assistance was offered to it by its conventional ally. America then created its own, closed, nuclear system and well before the 1946 Atomic Energy Act, the event which is typically seen by historians as the explanation of the fracturing of wartime atomic relations. Immediately after 1945 there was insufficient systemic force to create change in the consistent American policy of atomic monopoly. As fusion bombs introduced a new magnitude of risk, and as the nuclear world expanded and deepened, the systemic pressures grew.
    [Show full text]
  • The Question of Reducing the Threat Posed by Nations Possessing
    Mesaieed International School Model United Nations Forum: General Assembly 1 Issue: The Question of reducing threat posed by nations possessing nuclear Weapons. Student Officer: Subhan Khan Position: Deputy Chair Introduction The issue of nuclear weapons has been an ever-present issue within the world and was the first issue adopted by the UN (United Nations) in 1946. Nuclear armaments when detonated have devastating effects both environmentally and socio-economically via the fallout that it left behind from the bomb exploded. Many nations throughout the world are working to combat the issue, and the dismantling of all these weapons would be the perfect solution to all these issues, but this would be very difficult to do. Over 14,900 reported missiles remain on the Earth, and the decommissioning of all these weapons would be a feat for the human race. There is also the issue that nuclear weapons provide a sense of security and defence to a nation as they can pose a severe threat to any potential adversaries looking to harm a country. The decommissioning of nuclear weapons is an effort to preserve peace in the world and eradicate further complications that are to arise due to the threat of atomic weapons. Nations such as the US (United States) and formally the Soviet Union are unwilling to decommission their nuclear arsenals due to the risk of an attack that may occur at any point with the invention of ICBM’s (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles). Definition of Key Terms WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Regarded as a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapon that is capable of causing great damage to humans, infrastructure and biological systems in the vicinity of its deployment.
    [Show full text]
  • Letter to the Editor on “The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Survivor Studies: Discrepancies Between Results and General Perception” by Bertrand R
    | LETTER Letter to the Editor on “The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Survivor Studies: Discrepancies Between Results and General Perception” by Bertrand R. Jordan Christopher Busby Environmental Research, 1117 Latvian Academy of Sciences, LV-1050 Riga, Latvia ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0121-2243 (C.B.) n his recent article Jordan (2016) addresses the public’s What is not generally known is that the NIC controls were I“unreasonable” fears of radiation. He claims that the life- discarded in 1973 because they appeared to be “too healthy.” span study (LSS) of Japanese A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima The 1973 ABCC report wrote: and Nagasaki has given definitive information on the relation In order to ascertain the effects of radiation exposure it is between exposure and genetic damage, expressed as cancer necessary to compare the mortality experience of the pop- and heritable effects in offspring of those exposed. He pre- ulation exposed to ionizing radiation with a comparison sents the LSS as the gold standard in radiation epidemiology, control population. For this purpose a group of people and he is not alone in this (Kamiya et al. 2015). The LSS who were not present in the cities was included in the sample. results are the basis of legal limits for exposure and are em- ployed to dismiss evidence showing that health effects from The mortality experience of the NIC comparison group has Chernobyl (Yablokov et al. 2015), Fukushima thyroid cancers been very favorable. [and] would have the effect of exaggerating the difference in mortality between the heavily (Tsuda et al. 2016) and child leukemias near nuclear sites exposed population and the control group.
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Radiation Laboratory R
    AR.L-t*--*«. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. HOUSING & COMMUNITY SERVICES Public Health Impact of Fallout from British Nuclear Weapons Tests in Australia, 1952-1957 by Keith N. Wise and John R. Moroney Australian Radiation Laboratory r. t J: i AUSTRALIAN RADIATION LABORATORY i - PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF FALLOUT FROM BRITISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS IN AUSTRALIA, 1952-1957 by Keith N Wise and John R Moroney ARL/TR105 • LOWER PLENTY ROAD •1400 YALLAMBIE VIC 3085 MAY 1992 TELEPHONE: 433 2211 FAX (03) 432 1835 % FOREWORD This work was presented to the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia in 1985, but it was not otherwise reported. The impetus for now making it available to a wider audience came from the recent experience of one of us (KNW)* in surveying current research into modelling the transport of radionuclides in the environment; from this it became evident that the methods we used in 1985 remain the best available for such a problem. The present report is identical to the submission we made to the Royal Commission in 1985. Developments in the meantime do not call for change to the derivation of the radiation doses to the population from the nuclear tests, which is the substance of the report. However the recent upward revision of the risk coefficient for cancer mortality to 0.05 Sv"1 does require a change to the assessment we made of the doses in terms of detriment tc health. In 1985 we used a risk coefficient of 0.01, so that the estimates of cancer mortality given at pages iv & 60, and in Table 7.1, need to be multiplied by five.
    [Show full text]
  • Subjecting Radiologic Imaging to the Linear No-Threshold Hypothesis: a Non Sequitur of Non-Trivial Proportion
    Downloaded from jnm.snmjournals.org by on September 26, 2017. For personal use only. SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Subjecting Radiologic Imaging to the Linear No-Threshold Hypothesis: A Non Sequitur of Non-Trivial Proportion Jeffry A. Siegel1, Charles W. Pennington2, and Bill Sacks3 1Nuclear Physics Enterprises, Marlton, New Jersey; 2NAC International (retired), Norcross, Georgia, and executive nuclear energy consultant, Alpharetta, Georgia; and 3U.S. Food and Drug Administration (retired), Green Valley, Arizona 4,000 mGy, a stunning non sequitur. Nor has any evidence since Radiologic imaging is claimed to carry an iatrogenic risk of cancer, validated the carcinogenicity of low doses. The LNTH extrapola- based on an uninformed commitment to the 70-y-old linear no- tion from evidence-supported, high-dose effects to putative low- threshold hypothesis (LNTH). Credible evidence of imaging-related dose responses claims that all acute ionizing radiation exposure low-dose (,100 mGy) carcinogenic risk is nonexistent; it is a hypothet- down to zero is harmful proportionally to dose and that it yields ical risk derived from the demonstrably false LNTH. On the contrary, cumulative harm throughout life, regardless of how low the dose low-dose radiation does not cause, but more likely helps prevent, can- rate. Both claims are demonstrably false and harmful, leading to cer. The LNTH and its offspring, ALARA (as low as reasonably achiev- LNTH-derived regulations and policies that are not protective able), are fatally flawed, focusing only on molecular damage while ignoring protective, organismal biologic responses. Although some (2,3); for example, more than 1,600 deaths resulted from the grant the absence of low-dose harm, they nevertheless advocate LNTH-based evacuation policy for nearby residents after the the “prudence” of dose optimization (i.e., using ALARA doses); but Fukushima nuclear accident (3).
    [Show full text]
  • Childhood Leukemia, Atmospheric Test Fallout and High Voltage Power Distribution Lines Christopher Busby* Environmental Research SIA, Latvia
    Pediatric Dimensions Research Article ISSN: 2397-950X Childhood leukemia, atmospheric test fallout and high voltage power distribution lines Christopher Busby* Environmental Research SIA, Latvia Abstract An association between increased rates of childhood leukemia and proximity to high voltage electricity power transmission lines was found in a 2005 study by Draper et al. More recently, this study was extended to include a further period of time and with an enlarged dataset by Bunch et al 2014, the result being that there was no longer any overall statistically significant effect for the whole period. Using the data from these two studies the trend in Relative Risk with fallout dose is examined for five sub-periods 1962-69, 1970-79, 1980-89, 1990-99 and 2000-2008. The effect turns out to be significantly associated with the levels of radioactive fallout from atmospheric testing (Chi-square for trend = 7.6; p = 0.006). A non-linear association between the Relative Risk and the Fallout doses is robust, R2 = 0.955; F-statistic 65.6; p = 0.004. Fews et al. (1999) raised the issue of the concentration of airborne radioactive particles near power lines and it is suggested that the observed trend in Relative Risk with time supports a hypothesis in which the inhalation of radioactive particulates from fallout may be the cause, or related to the cause of the effect. The hypothesis is extended to a general discussion of child leukemia and radiation which implicates particulates. Introduction due to immune system incompetence [13]. On the other hand, within national data, child leukemia at the time of the peaks in weapons The issue of child cancer and high voltage power lines has been an fallout has been associated with fallout exposure using rainfall as a area of controversy since 1979 when Wertheimer and Leeper reported surrogate.
    [Show full text]
  • Eliminating Use of the Linear No-Threshold Assumption in Medical Imaging
    (1,4,5). In doing so, Weber and Zanzonico one-sidedly focus on risk in 4. Ozasa K, Shimizu Y, Suyama A, et al. Studies of the mortality of atomic bomb the low-dose region as the default assumption, neglecting benefit. survivors, report 14, 1950-2003: an overview of cancer and noncancer diseases. Radiat Res. 2012;177:229–243. Most tellingly, they imply that prospective studies are the only 5. Siegel JA, Welsh JS. Does imaging technology cause cancer? Debunking the valid basis on which to decide, but they simultaneously say that linear no-threshold model of radiation carcinogenesis. Technol Cancer Res such studies may be “logistically and financially prohibitive,” not Treat. 2016;15:249–256. to mention possibly unethical. Thus, as the basis of regulatory 6. Dobrzynski´ L, Fornalski KW, Feinendegen LE. Cancer mortality among people policy and medical practice, they ensconce LNT in a position living in areas with various levels of natural background radiation. Dose Response. 2015;13:1559325815592391. impervious to further (obtainable) evidence and implicitly reject the mounting nonprospective evidence against it. Jeffry A. Siegel* Indeed, many, if not most, medical conclusions and practices have Bill Sacks been arrived at without prospective studies, which would often be *Nuclear Physics Enterprises unethical. For example, in the 19th century a stunning insight by 4 Wedgewood Dr. Dr. John Snow, that cholera was caused by sewage in the water Marlton, NJ 08053 supply, led to the purification of the water supply with salutary results. E-mail: [email protected] No prospective trial was ever performed, nor could it be performed ethically.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Ongoing Nuclear Disaster in Fukushima
    Volume 9 | Issue 37 | Number 3 | Article ID 3599 | Sep 21, 2011 The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus Understanding the Ongoing Nuclear Disaster in Fukushima: A “Two-Headed Dragon” Descends into the Earth’s Biosphere •Japanese original text is available 福島で進行中の核の大惨事を どう見るか −−「双頭の天龍」を地球生命圏に降下させた危険を見据 えよう Fujioka Atsushi Understanding the Ongoing Nuclear Jinzaburō (Citizens’ Nuclear Information Disaster in Fukushima: A “Two- Center) once pointed out. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster broke out on April 23, 1986, Headed Dragon” Descends into the and shortly after that Takagi wrote the Earth’s Biosphere following: The Japanese original text is available Nuclear technology is the Fujioka Atsushi equivalent of acquiring on earth the technology of the Translated by Michael K. Bourdaghs heavens….The deployment here on earth of nuclear reactions, a The author assesses the Fukushima nuclear phenomenon occurring naturally disaster in light of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, only in heavenly bodies and Hanford, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and the completely unknown to the natural nexus between nuclear weapons and nuclear world here on the earth’s surface, power. is…a matter of deep significance. This summer, I participated for the seventeenth For all forms of life, radiation is a time in the “Pilgrimage for Peace,” traveling to threat against which they possess Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a group that no defense; it is an alien intruder included seventeen American students led by disrupting the principles of life on Professor Peter Kuznick of American earth. Our world on the surface of University, seven international students from this planet, including life, is across Asia, and sixteen students from Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Arms Race
    WINDSCALE AND THE POST-WAR NUCLEAR ARMS RACE Windscale, 1956, with the impressive James Chadwick works with Major General Leslie Groves And so, Attlee decided to independently pursue Piles on the right. as part of the Manhattan Project. the research of nuclear science and creation of an atomic bomb. In 1945, he created the Gen The special relationship Churchill had so carefully 75 Committee, also known as the Atomic Bomb cultivated began to fracture after the war ended. Committee, which established the government’s Considering the new technology and information uncovered nuclear policy. He knew he would need some of during the Manhattan Project to be a joint discovery, Britain’s sharpest minds to successfully develop Britain had expected that the sharing of advancements Britain’s nuclear technology and brought some of in the nuclear field would continue in peacetime. But the the country’s most prominent scientists on board, death of Roosevelt in 1945 would mark the end of wartime fresh from their time working on the Manhattan collaboration between the two countries, as President Project. Although these scientists had gained key Truman brought to a conclusion the agreements previously experience in the States and returned home with reached with Britain and Canada, going so far as to valuable knowledge, none of them had a complete introduce the Atomic Energy Act in 1946 which classified picture of how their research came together to US atomic secrets. With this act, it became a federal create a nuclear weapon, having been limited in their offence to reveal such nuclear secrets, deeming it a matter roles.
    [Show full text]