548761 research-article2014
APHXXX10.1177/1010539514548761Asia-Pacific Journal of Public HealthPitrou
Letter to the Editor
Nuclear Tests in French Polynesia: Need for Clarification of the Radiological Situation
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 2015, Vol. 27(2) 232–233 © 2014 APJPH Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1010539514548761 aph.sagepub.com
Isabelle Pitrou, MD, PhD
Dear Editor Nuclear weapons tests were conducted in the atmosphere at numerous sites worldwide between 1946 and 1980, resulting in radiation exposures to local populations as a consequence of fallout of radioactive debris. The nuclear tests were conducted by 5 nations (United States, the former Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, and China) primarily at 16 sites. Levels of exposures are influenced by population density, lifestyle, environment, and climate.1 In terms of public health, it is of high importance to obtain realistic estimates of dose exposure because (a) data can serve research projects, for example, epidemiological studies and safety/risk assessment; (b) data may help public health and policy authorities to plan preventative programs; and (c) the exposed individuals have the right to know the extent of exposure.
The Case of French Polynesia From 1966 to 1974, 41 nuclear tests were conducted in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of the French republic located in the Western Pacific region. The majority of the tests took place in Moruroa atoll (n = 37) and 4 in Fangataufa. Observational studies have shown high rates of acute myeloid leukemia and one of the highest incidence of thyroid cancer in the world 2. Data on dose exposure associated with those tests remain uncertain as some documents remain secret and are still classified by the French Army. Previous epidemiological studies in French Polynesia were hampered by those difficulties to estimate past radiation exposure of study participants. Some studies used dose reconstruction methods but those had limitations. F De Vathaire in a population-based study 3, compared the radiation exposure of almost all the French Polynesians diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1981 and 2003 to the exposure of 373 controls without cancer. Results showed that the mean radiation dose was low and that thyroid cancer risk increased with increasing dose. In this study, dose reconstruction was based on a number of available measurements, including diet, meteorological data, and environmental measures. Some measurements and data were limited or unavailable and this certainly underestimated the thyroid dose of the study participants.4 The French Army5 in 1998 published dose estimates that were similar to those reported by De Vathaire et al.3 In 2006, the French Army published new estimates for the 6 nuclear tests associated with the highest fallout.6 Those estimations were higher than those
Taaone Territorial hospital, Papeete, French Polynesia Corresponding Author: Isabelle Pitrou, SIM Department, Taaone Territorial Hospital, BP 1640, Papeete 98713, French Polynesia. Email: [email protected]
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reported4 in 1998 but did not take into account the variability in dietary consumption and were available only for 6 islands or atolls in French Polynesia. Nuclear tests in French Polynesia were violently condemned internationally, notably by the government of other Asian-Pacific countries, including New-Zealand. This page of history remains taboo and political interests limit the disclosure of sensitive data and information to a larger public. Some local associations in French Polynesia notably the Association Moruroa e tatou (http://www.moruroaetatou.com) is very active locally, provides support to the veterans, and acts to let the facts and data associated with the nuclear tests become public. Till now, the amount of information available on the tests conducted in French Polynesia in the late 1960s and early 1970s remains insufficient to provide any detailed evaluation of past and present radiation exposures and the optimal assessment of the health consequences for local populations in French Polynesia. This remains a challenge in terms of public health. Physicians involved locally in child psychiatry and neurodevelopmental diseases in childhood report that they observe a trend for increased rates of malformations and neurodevelopmental retardations among children and young adults. And the hypothesis is that this increasing incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders might be associated with past radiation exposure of their parents and a potential generational transmission of genetic alterations. Research is needed to explore the association of neurodevelopmental disorders and past nuclear exposure. The further release of classified material by the French government on the radiological situation would help in refining dose estimates and could be used in those future epidemiological studies. The hypothesis suggested by Bouchardy 2 that high incidence rates of acute myeloid leukemia and thyroid cancer rates are due to the ‘‘health consequences of exposure to radiations emanating from nuclear tests’’ need futher epidemiological explorations with updated data on nuclear estimates. Author’s Note This letter is dedicated to the victims of the nuclear testings conducted in French Polynesia.
Acknowledgements The author would like to acknowledge Bruno Barrillot, consultant for nuclear issues in French Polynesia, and Dr Christian Sueur, child psychiatrist at Taaone territorial hospital.
References 1. Simon SL, Bouville A. Radiation doses to local populations near nuclear weapons test sites worldwide. Health Phys. 2002;82:706-725. 2. Bouchardy C, Benhamou S, de Vathaire F, Schaffar R, Rapiti E. Incidence rates of thyroid cancer and myeloid leukaemia in French Polynesia. Int J Cancer. 2011;128: 2241–2243. 3. De Vathaire F, Drozdovitch V, Brindel P, et al. Thyroid cancer following nuclear tests in French Polynesia. Br J Cancer. 2010;103:1115-1121. 4. Drozdovitch V, Bouville A, Doyon F, Brindel P, Cardis E, de Vathaire F. Reconstruction of individual radiation doses for a case-control study of thyroid cancer in French Polynesia. Health Phys. 2008;94:418-433. 5. Bourgès G. Radiological consequences of the atmospheric tests on the Islands of French Polynesia from 1966-1974, In: Centre d’Energie Atomique, eds. Impact Géomécanique et Radiologique des Essais Nucléaires à Mururoa et Fangataufa (Polynésie française). Paris, France: La Documentation française; 1998. 6. Jurien de La Gravière M. Les Essais Nucléaires Français Dans Le Pacifique. Paris, France: Délégué à la Sûreté Nucléaire de Défense; 2006.
Downloaded from aph.sagepub.com at UNIV OF CINCINNATI on June 4, 2016
APHXXX10.1177/1010539514548761Asia-Pacific Journal of Public HealthPitrou
Letter to the Editor
Nuclear Tests in French Polynesia: Need for Clarification of the Radiological Situation
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 2015, Vol. 27(2) 232–233 © 2014 APJPH Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1010539514548761 aph.sagepub.com
Isabelle Pitrou, MD, PhD
Dear Editor Nuclear weapons tests were conducted in the atmosphere at numerous sites worldwide between 1946 and 1980, resulting in radiation exposures to local populations as a consequence of fallout of radioactive debris. The nuclear tests were conducted by 5 nations (United States, the former Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, and China) primarily at 16 sites. Levels of exposures are influenced by population density, lifestyle, environment, and climate.1 In terms of public health, it is of high importance to obtain realistic estimates of dose exposure because (a) data can serve research projects, for example, epidemiological studies and safety/risk assessment; (b) data may help public health and policy authorities to plan preventative programs; and (c) the exposed individuals have the right to know the extent of exposure.
The Case of French Polynesia From 1966 to 1974, 41 nuclear tests were conducted in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of the French republic located in the Western Pacific region. The majority of the tests took place in Moruroa atoll (n = 37) and 4 in Fangataufa. Observational studies have shown high rates of acute myeloid leukemia and one of the highest incidence of thyroid cancer in the world 2. Data on dose exposure associated with those tests remain uncertain as some documents remain secret and are still classified by the French Army. Previous epidemiological studies in French Polynesia were hampered by those difficulties to estimate past radiation exposure of study participants. Some studies used dose reconstruction methods but those had limitations. F De Vathaire in a population-based study 3, compared the radiation exposure of almost all the French Polynesians diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1981 and 2003 to the exposure of 373 controls without cancer. Results showed that the mean radiation dose was low and that thyroid cancer risk increased with increasing dose. In this study, dose reconstruction was based on a number of available measurements, including diet, meteorological data, and environmental measures. Some measurements and data were limited or unavailable and this certainly underestimated the thyroid dose of the study participants.4 The French Army5 in 1998 published dose estimates that were similar to those reported by De Vathaire et al.3 In 2006, the French Army published new estimates for the 6 nuclear tests associated with the highest fallout.6 Those estimations were higher than those
Taaone Territorial hospital, Papeete, French Polynesia Corresponding Author: Isabelle Pitrou, SIM Department, Taaone Territorial Hospital, BP 1640, Papeete 98713, French Polynesia. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from aph.sagepub.com at UNIV OF CINCINNATI on June 4, 2016
233
Pitrou
reported4 in 1998 but did not take into account the variability in dietary consumption and were available only for 6 islands or atolls in French Polynesia. Nuclear tests in French Polynesia were violently condemned internationally, notably by the government of other Asian-Pacific countries, including New-Zealand. This page of history remains taboo and political interests limit the disclosure of sensitive data and information to a larger public. Some local associations in French Polynesia notably the Association Moruroa e tatou (http://www.moruroaetatou.com) is very active locally, provides support to the veterans, and acts to let the facts and data associated with the nuclear tests become public. Till now, the amount of information available on the tests conducted in French Polynesia in the late 1960s and early 1970s remains insufficient to provide any detailed evaluation of past and present radiation exposures and the optimal assessment of the health consequences for local populations in French Polynesia. This remains a challenge in terms of public health. Physicians involved locally in child psychiatry and neurodevelopmental diseases in childhood report that they observe a trend for increased rates of malformations and neurodevelopmental retardations among children and young adults. And the hypothesis is that this increasing incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders might be associated with past radiation exposure of their parents and a potential generational transmission of genetic alterations. Research is needed to explore the association of neurodevelopmental disorders and past nuclear exposure. The further release of classified material by the French government on the radiological situation would help in refining dose estimates and could be used in those future epidemiological studies. The hypothesis suggested by Bouchardy 2 that high incidence rates of acute myeloid leukemia and thyroid cancer rates are due to the ‘‘health consequences of exposure to radiations emanating from nuclear tests’’ need futher epidemiological explorations with updated data on nuclear estimates. Author’s Note This letter is dedicated to the victims of the nuclear testings conducted in French Polynesia.
Acknowledgements The author would like to acknowledge Bruno Barrillot, consultant for nuclear issues in French Polynesia, and Dr Christian Sueur, child psychiatrist at Taaone territorial hospital.
References 1. Simon SL, Bouville A. Radiation doses to local populations near nuclear weapons test sites worldwide. Health Phys. 2002;82:706-725. 2. Bouchardy C, Benhamou S, de Vathaire F, Schaffar R, Rapiti E. Incidence rates of thyroid cancer and myeloid leukaemia in French Polynesia. Int J Cancer. 2011;128: 2241–2243. 3. De Vathaire F, Drozdovitch V, Brindel P, et al. Thyroid cancer following nuclear tests in French Polynesia. Br J Cancer. 2010;103:1115-1121. 4. Drozdovitch V, Bouville A, Doyon F, Brindel P, Cardis E, de Vathaire F. Reconstruction of individual radiation doses for a case-control study of thyroid cancer in French Polynesia. Health Phys. 2008;94:418-433. 5. Bourgès G. Radiological consequences of the atmospheric tests on the Islands of French Polynesia from 1966-1974, In: Centre d’Energie Atomique, eds. Impact Géomécanique et Radiologique des Essais Nucléaires à Mururoa et Fangataufa (Polynésie française). Paris, France: La Documentation française; 1998. 6. Jurien de La Gravière M. Les Essais Nucléaires Français Dans Le Pacifique. Paris, France: Délégué à la Sûreté Nucléaire de Défense; 2006.
Downloaded from aph.sagepub.com at UNIV OF CINCINNATI on June 4, 2016
