Government News Index
Australians to be tested for 'Balkans syndrome'
The Federal Government has announced it will test
the health of more than 200 Australian military personnel following concerns about exposure to depleted uranium munitions.
The acting Defence Minister, Bruce Scott, says the 216 personnel who have served in the Balkans for a month or more since 1993 will be screened immediately and then monitored every five years.
Mr Scott says while the threat of cancer has yet to become real, they are not taking any chances.
"At present there's no conclusive scientific or medical
evidence that exposure to depleted uranium is a health risk
and, at this stage, we do not have any evidence that
there's been any claims for undiagnosed or difficult to
diagnose conditions of those who did serve in the
Balkans," he said.
"But nonetheless, we have a duty of care and this five-point plan is going to deal with the issue."
Mr Scott says they have devised a comprehensive plan to deal with the potential problem.
"We are going to identify and contact [Australian Defence Force] personnel who are potentially at risk," he said.
"We're going to conduct a health screening on those personnel.
"Importantly, we'll be providing support and counselling service to those members and also their families and, just as importantly, we're going to provide for a continuing health monitoring at least every five years of these defence personnel."