Mururoa radiation exposure not harmful: report

Mururoa Atoll, the site of 1973 nuclear testing by France - photo / Getty Images

Veterans of French nuclear testing at Mururoa in 1973 were not exposed to dangerous levels of radiation exposure, despite veterans' concerns, a new report has found.

The report by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) found the crews on HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury were in no more danger of radiation exposure than their families back in New Zealand.

The then Labour government sent the two ships on a protest voyage against nuclear testing at Mururoa in 1973 under an operation codenamed 'PILASTER'.

Monitoring was done on the vessels, the report said, and there was nothing to indicate either ship was exposed to significant radiation attributable to the weapon tests.

The HMNZS Otago crew was exposed to none, it said.

On the HMNZS Canterbury very small traces of atmospheric radioactivity were detected a day after the test.

The report also discounted the possibility that drinking water distilled from seawater was contaminated.

"The report concludes that due to the lower natural background radiation levels over the oceans and the lack of exposure to other sources of radiation, the crews of HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury received no more radiation exposure during their one-month deployments to Mururoa than their families did at home, and possibly less."

Veterans' Affairs minister Craig Foss had commissioned the report after meeting with Mururoa veterans earlier in the year. The veterans' group wants the children and grandchildren of the veterans to be medically tested to ensure any conditions from radiation exposure have not been passed on.

Mr Foss said he presented the finding to the Mururoa Nuclear Veterans' Group yesterday along with the ESR and Veterans' Affairs.

"I cannot speak to the science of the report but I hope it provides some reassurance that veterans were not exposed to harmful doses of radiation.

"Regardless of the report's findings, these veterans are still eligible for support through Veterans' Affairs."

The Mururoa Veterans' website said it would not comment until after it had considered the report.