[CPEO-MEF] RADIATION, HEALTH, GLOBAL: French soldiers and 1960s nuclear testing

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

French 'exposed to nuclear tests'

By Aidan Lewis
BBC News (UK)
February 16, 2010

French authorities deliberately exposed soldiers to nuclear testing in 
the Sahara, according to researchers citing a confidential French 
military report.

At least one test aimed to "study the physiological and psychological 
effects of nuclear arms on man", they say.

Le Parisien newspaper, which carried excerpts from the document on 
Tuesday, quoted the defence minister as saying he had no knowledge of 
the report.

Some soldiers say they were made ill by French tests dating back to the 
1960s.

They have complained for decades that they were given insufficient 
protection from radioactive fallout during testing, with some claiming 
they were used as "guinea pigs".

After long denying any responsibility, the French government drew up a 
bill last year to compensate veterans for health problems that could be 
linked to the tests.


...

For the entire story, see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8518348.stm

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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