Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for health of the atomic weapons research establishment Aldermaston work force of the results of the survey conducted at Aldermaston by the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine, published in theBritish Medical Journal in September, showing statistically significant excesses of levels of prostatic cancer.
§ Sir Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the incidence of different forms of cancer among people working at the atomic weapons research establishment; how these figures relate to the relevant averages for the United Kingdom as a whole; what medical examinations for carcinomas take place among the employees and how frequently; and whether he is generally satisfied with health levels at the establishment.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe main conclusions of the study published in the BMJ No. 6651, Volume 297, on 24 September 1988 were that the mortality rates of AWE employees both from all causes and from all cancers were lower than those of the United Kingdom national averages for the general population when age distribution and sex were taken into account. No significant difference overall in mortality rates between exposed and non-exposed AWE workers was observed. In separate comparisons for 29 specific cancer categories the mortality rates for radiation-monitored workers was lower compared with that for other workers and with the national average in several categories, including leukaemia, multiple myeloma and lung cancer, and higher in some others. A suggestion of higher mortality rate from prostrate cancer in a very small group of workers who had accumulated comparatively high external exposures and had also been monitored for internal uptake of radioactive materials must be treated with caution; the numbers involved were very small. Although mortality from lung cancer in radiation workers was below the average for the general population, among workers monitored for internal exposure mortality from this cause rose as external exposure increased by the statistical link was weak.
337WThe Government regard the findings as confirmation that the radiological protection policy operated by AWE during the period covered by this study was sound and effective, but accept the need for continuing vigilance to keep all radiation doses both internal and external "as low as reasonably practicable", in accordance with United Kingdom legislative measure and with the practices recommended by international and national radiological protection authorities. That is not to say that the suggestion that there might be a specific occupational hazard of prostrate cancer for a small group, similar to that observed in the study of workers in UKAEA, does not merit further study to establish whether it can be definitely associated with a particular aspect of employment. To this end, arrangements are being made for this study to be analysed with other similar ones for UKAEA and BNF plc, thus increasing the numbers of workers included with the anticipation that the outcome will be a more precise statistical estimate.
Information on cancer incidence has not been collated. All occupationally exposed workers are given a medical examination every two years unless there are grounds, including the individual's preference, for more frequent examinations. These examinations would be expected to uncover suspicion of any serious ailments including carcinomas which, if found, would then be referred immediately to the individual's own general practitioner. I am satisfied with health levels at the establishment.