New cancer link to secret tests


19 January 2006 11:51

Campaigners today renewed calls for a full investigation into germ warfare tests over Norwich following after a new report revealed a direct link between the type of chemical dropped in the 1960s and cancer.

Cadmium was dropped over Norwich by Government scientists in the 1960s and now findings from a 20-year study in Belgium have shown people living near factories, which emit the same chemical, were three times more likely to contract lung cancer as people living in low exposure areas.

The new study, published on medical journal The Lancet's website this week, is the first to prove a definite link between cadmium emissions and lung cancer.

In Norwich, death rates from lung cancer are the highest in the region, particularly among males, despite not having a high smoking prevalence.

It lends weight to fears that cadmium, dropped over Norwich in the 1960s, could have caused the deaths of scores of cancer patients.

The Evening News has called for the Government to investigate links between the chemical tests and oesophageal cancer and has compiled a dossier of more than 120 victims.

Today, Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson, who has campaigned for a Government investigation, said the fresh links with lung cancer were a cause for concern.

"This is an amazing discovery. It isn't cancer of the oesophagus, but I would say the lungs are close enough.

"It is an indication that we are onto something with the link between the high rates of oesophageal cancer here and the cadmium that was dropped over Norwich.

"I hope this encourages the hospital and the university to look at the situation here in Norfolk. I would like to see an inquiry into the rates of lung cancer in different areas of the city where the cadmium was dropped compared to other areas.

"The new report talks about how the cadmium goes into the soil and I think this could have happened in Norwich. It all adds to our argument and gives the whole theory of a link between oesophageal cancer and the cadmium drops credibility."

The most up to date held by the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority (NSC SHA) shows from 2001-2002, a figure of 51.1 out of 100,000 males in Norwich died from lung cancer while in Ipswich the rate was 32.2, Central Suffolk, 20.8 and Great Yarmouth 29.6.

Norwich was the only hotspot in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire identified as a lung cancer hotspot that falls above the England average of 37.3 per 100,000.

The new Belgian findings from the University of Leuven show a link between the build-up of industrial emissions of cadmium in the environment and lung cancer.

Jan Staessen, 56, who the report, said it was the first time any link had been officially made.

"Cadmium was identified as a human carcinogen 10 years ago by the World Health Organisation.

"Over the past 20 years we have carried out this extensive study and it is the first to ever identify a link between lung cancer and environmental exposure to cadmium.

"Due to this report, the Flemish government is holding a meeting to see what we do next. I suggest if this is a concern in the UK a full investigation should be carried out."

Researchers began following 500 people who lived in areas close to three zinc smelters where cadmium emissions were high, and 500 people living in low exposure areas.

By 2004, 19 had died of lung cancer of which 15 had lived in the high exposure areas. The study traced cadmium levels in the soil of participant's gardens and checked their urine to measure build-ups of the chemical in their bodies.

Cadmium was released by military aeroplanes over Norwich and Norfolk in 1963 and 1964. The tests were carried out by scientists from the chemical defence base Porton Down in Wiltshire.

The link between the chemical and oesophageal cancer was exposed by leading medic at the N & N Wyn Parry who revealed he was dealing with 50 per cent more oesophageal cancer patients than he would expect for this area.

The Ministry of Defence has claimed it carried out at least five separate experiments because they wanted to find out how the chemicals would disperse.

The campaign to find out the consequences of the tests has led to a pledge from the Department of Health to investigate possible link between the tests and a cancer cluster in the area.

Colin Cossey, 69, lost two of his relatives to cancer. His brother Dennis Cossey died two and a half years ago of cancer of the oesophagus and his brother in law Eddie Bramley died in 1985 after cancer spread all over his body, including his lungs.

Mr Cossey from Thorpe Marriot said: "My brother in law worked as a milkman on Larkman Lane and his death could easily have been linked to the Cadmium tests.

"The cancer was all over his body when he died at the age of 58. It has spread everywhere.

"My brother died of oesophageal cancer, he lived on Gertrude Road around the time of the tests.

"The government definitely needs to carry out a proper investigation, especially with the link to more than one cancer."

But Dr Parry, today said the link between cadmium and lung cancer was not particularly relevant to his research into a link with oesophageal cancer.

He said: "The link between cadmium and lung cancer has been known for a very long time because cadmium is found in cigarettes. I think it would be very hard to prove that dropping cadmium over Norwich had increased lung cancer rates here. It is a bit of a stretch to say the two are connected."

Do you think you have been affected by the chemical tests? Write to Newsdesk, Evening News, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE, or email eveningnews@archant.co.uk

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