Lymphatic cancer twice as likely for Gulf veterans By Colin Brown

Lymphatic cancer twice as likely for Gulf veterans
By Colin Brown, Political Editor
(Filed: 04/08/2002)

The government has launched an investigation into cancers among Gulf war veterans after figures disclosed that the incidence of lymphatic cancer among troops who served in Iraq is almost twice the normal level.

The study, to be carried out by scientists at Manchester University, follows claims by veterans' organisations that the cancers might have been caused by depleted uranium shells used in the conflict.

The Ministry of Defence insists that there is no evidence of a link but has agreed to conduct further research because of the abnormally high level of deaths.

The ministry's figures show that there were 92 deaths from cancer. These include 19 cases of lymphatic or bone marrow cancers among the veterans of the Gulf conflict, compared with only 11 in a control group of men of similar age.

The incidence of other cancers among the veterans was normal or below the number in the control group.

A spokesman for the MoD said: "We have had a medical inquiry into Gulf war syndrome. This investigation is taking it into a new area. It shows that we are listening to the concerns of the Gulf war veterans."

James Moore, a director of the National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association, welcomed the investigation but said that it should not be a repeat of the MoD "whitewash" on Gulf war syndrome.

The Government is also investigating the high incidence of driving accidents among the veterans. The aim is to discover whether the former soldiers have a shorter attention span, possibly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, or whether they are more inclined to take risks than other drivers.

A total of 118 veterans have died in road accidents between April 1 1991 and June 30 this year, against 92 in a control group.

A total of 53,200 troops served in the Gulf war. So far, of the 551 who have died, 213 deaths were caused by disease-related causes such as cancer. A further 329 have died from accidents or other causes including six murdered and 100 who committed suicide. More than 5,000 survivors have reported various forms of illness.

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