HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc882-3W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's evaluation of whether short-term exposure to mustard gas causes bone marrow depression and the resulting immunosuppression in the long term. [54539]

Mr. Doug Henderson

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 7 August 1998: I have been asked to reply to your question about DERA's evaluation of whether short term exposure to mustard gas causes bone marrow depression and the resulting immunosuppression in the long term. DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence sector (CBD) has not performed any research into either bone marrow depression or immunosuppression following short term exposure to mustard gas. However, CBD is aware from both the available literature on the subject and the experience gained through assisting in the clinical management of Iranian casualties in the UK during the late 1980s that bone marrow depression and severe immunosuppression can result from a single high does exposure to mustard, particularly after liquid exposure under occluded conditions. A total of four out of approximately thirty Iranian casualties treated in the UK developed bone marrow depression as a result of contamination of a large proportion of their body surfaces with mustard. This depression of their bone marrow and immune competency progressed rapidly and resulted in their deaths from overwhelming infection with a few days; such rapidly decreasing bone marrow function proved to be resistant to treatment with both blood and cell transfusions. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's evaluation of whether short-term exposure to mustard gas causes chronic skin ulceration and scar formation. [55329]

Mr. Doug Henderson

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 19 October 1998: I have been asked to reply to your question about the effects of short term exposure to mustard gas. I informed you in my letter of 20 August 1997, printed in the Official Report Col 660 dated 27 October, that DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence sector (CBD) has reviewed the available literature documenting the effects of short term exposure to mustard gas. In my earlier letter I explained that historical evidence from the First World War, and more recent nursing of Iranian patients in the UK in the mid 1980s, indicates that short term exposure to mustard gas affects the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. The effects on the skin consist of reddening followed by blistering; similar effects are seen at the other affected areas. Once the blisters rupture, ulceration of the skin following; these injuries take a long while to heal. The long term effects of mustard exposure have most frequently been documented in people previously employed in the manufacture of mustard gas. In a study of 488 workers from the Okuno-jima war gas plant, 115 showed pigmentary skin changes and 22 showed evidence of basal cell cancer and Bowen's disease (pre-invasive cancer). Thus far, there has only been one report describing the long term effects of mustard exposure on the skin of war veterans. A group of Iranian solders were monitored for almost two years following exposure to mustard during the Iran-Iraq war of 1984–1988. Of the exposed casualties, 41% developed pigmentary disorders. No other clinical abnormalities have so far been identified. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's evaluation of the effect on human health in(a) the long-term and (b) the short-term of exposure to phosgene. [55320]

Mr. Doug Henderson

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 19 October 1998: I have been asked to reply to your question about possible effects on human health of long term and short term exposure to phosgene. I informed you in my letter of 21 July 1998, printed in the Official Report Col 472 dated 21 July, that DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence sector (CBD) was undertaking studies to determine the short term effects of exposure to phosgene as part of an ongoing research programme. These studies are not yet complete. CBD's evaluation of the long term effects is based on information available from the First World War when phosgene was used extensively. Inhalation of the gas causes immediate irritation of the respiratory passages. The effects on the lung, which can be fatal, may not become apparent for two to six hours after exposure. If exposure does not prove fatal the lung usually recovers within a few weeks. However, the results of long term reviews of the health of First World War veterans exposed to phosgene have indicated that the incidence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is higher in these veterans than in age matched control groups. I hope this is helpful.