Evidence of meeting #64 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was study.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Dr. Lalonde, do you agree that the results of this study are not new but agree with the conclusions of other expert bodies in Europe and the United States?
9:20 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
Absolutely.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Dr. Lalonde, we heard testimony from Dr. Nicholas Priest, who confirmed his agreement with a paper he wrote in 2001, which stated:
Exposure to radiations emitted by uranium metal presents a negligible radiological hazard. Completely surrounding a worker with depleted uranium for 8 h a day for a year would not result in radiation doses that exceed the maximum annual occupational dose limit for radiation workers.
Do you agree that depleted uranium presents a negligible risk to human health even if humans come in contact with it?
9:20 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
If humans come in contact with it.... As you know, adverse health effects are dependent on the degree of exposure. I have to say that I agree with Dr. Priest's position, absolutely.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Do you agree that the study appropriately assesses all Canadian and international research in reaching its conclusions?
9:20 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
Yes, I agree.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Is there anything in the study that you felt missed the mark?
9:20 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
No, not at all. However, I can add that just by chance last night, as I was reviewing for this case, a new report came out, dated April 2013. It was following on from the Gulf War veterans who were victims of depleted uranium friendly fire. In this new study, done by Dr. McDiarmid, it simply reconfirms the previous conclusions: that depleted uranium is not likely the cause of problems.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I think you just answered my next question as to whether you feel the body of international and Canadian research reaches a conclusive determination or if the results are conflicting. I think you answered that.
9:20 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
Yes, and even the brand-new research as of last night.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Is there any more that we can learn about DU and its impact on human health, or have there been enough studies done that there's really nothing more we can learn, the results are conclusive, and it is what it is?
9:20 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
I believe the results are conclusive.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Could the same level of DU exposure, be it a low level or a high level, produce dramatically different symptoms in two different individuals?
9:25 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
I suppose so.
9:25 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
There is variability. Every person is different. Yes, I guess.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Peter Stoffer
Okay. Thank you very much.
We'll move on to your colleague. Mr. Lobb is next.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for coming here today.
We've been through this a couple of times, but for the benefit of the committee, could you tell us, from your experience and research.... Some people were exposed to depleted uranium in the Balkans; that's a fact. No Canadian Forces members are there, but certainly a population is there.
Can you tell us the immediate symptoms of somebody who's been exposed to depleted uranium?
9:25 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
This may not be the answer you're looking for. The soldiers who have sustained the highest level of exposure are those who were involved in depleted uranium friendly fire. So their injuries would be related to fragments of depleted uranium. They would not be linked to chemical or radiological toxicity of uranium; they would be from the injury itself.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Okay. So you're saying there is really no reaction to the exposure or no overt symptoms that would—
9:25 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
From soldiers, I would say no. Certainly adverse health effects from uranium were observed in occupational groups.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Okay, and what kinds of effects are the civilian population experiencing, or did they experience?
9:25 a.m.
Senior Advisor, Toxicology, Forces Health Protection, Canadian Forces Health Services, Department of National Defence
According to UNEP and the World Health Organization, there were no significant measurable health effects in the local population where depleted uranium munition impact sites—
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
That being said, it's pretty much a 100% certainty that three years after somebody thought they were exposed, these symptoms—and there aren't any symptoms, from your comments—are not going to pop out of the blue sky? That would be a pretty safe bet.