MEDIA RELEASE

: ,Ã¢Â‘ PR 90/264

Canberra  July 13, 1990  (jJ

SUPPRESSION OF HEALTH STUDIES AT LUCAS HEIGHTS REPREHENSIBLE:  DEMOCRATS

Senator John Coulter, spokesperson for the Australian Democrats  on health, said today that the suppression by the Australian  Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC) of the findings of the

epidemiological studies at Lucas Heights by Dr Arthur Tucker was  a matter of grave concern. During Dr Tucker's term at Lucas  Heights from 1964 to 1985, he found a number of unusual health  problems, including a high incidence of the incurable lung  disease sarcoidosis and a rapid deterioration in lung function  amongst staff handling uranium dust.

"Dr Tucker's attempts to publish his results and to reinforce his  studies with similar works were thwarted by the AAEC" said  Senator Coulter. "Obviously, the AAEC was more intent on  inducting Australia into the world nuclear club than in  protecting the health of its workers.

"Recent studies published in the British Medical Journal in  February this year have shown other health problems associated  with workers in nuclear plants. Children, whose fathers had  worked at Sellafield nuclear plant and exposed to more than

lOOmSv of external radiation, had a six to eightfold increased  risk of leukemia.  "Obviously, Australian workers exposed to similar high doses of  radiation in our uranium mines or at Lucas Heights are at  increased risk of producing children who will develop leukemia.  A number of epidemiological studies should be occurring as a  matter of course to monitor the health of workers and their

children. Yet it seems the opposite occurred while Dr Tucker was  at Lucas Heights - blatant suppression of his findings and  restriction of further work.  essential

on health  be hoped

"Lucas Heights is a nuclear research facility. It is  that its brief include open and independent research  matters associated with the nuclear industry . It is to  that Dr David Cook, executive director of ANSTO

successor), allows appropriate health research to take  Lucas Heights" concluded Senator Coulter.

Further information: John Coulter 08.3330277  Jenny Macleod 06.2773645

(AAEC's  place at

