27 Apr 2004
MOD publishes clinical findings in 111 ex-porton down
volunteers
A two-year medical study of Porton Down veterans has found no clinical
evidence linking ill-health with participation in a volunteer programme
at the research establishment.
111 former volunteers were referred to the Porton Down Volunteers Medical
Assessment Programme (PDVMAP) at St Thomas' Hospital, London, between
February 2001 and July 2003.
Most had taken part in a 1950s research programme which involved exposure
to single dose low concentrations of chemical warfare agents.
Professor Harry Lee, head of the PDVMAP, published his findings today.
Key among these findings are:
- No clinical evidence has been found linking ill-health with participation
in the research programme.
- No unusual patterns of disease have been identified among volunteers
medically assessed.
- Illnesses observed within volunteers are consistent with those you
would expect to find in a pool of men from the general population
of similar age.
Professor Lee said:
"On a clinical basis, we could find nothing to support the idea that
participation in the Porton Down Volunteer Programme had produced any
adverse long term health effects."
"Similarly, we were unable to find any unusual patterns of disease."
Ivor Caplin, Under Secretary of State for Defence, said:
"We welcome Professor Lee's studies and hope these results will be
reassuring to volunteers who made such vital contributions to important
research at Porton Down.
"However, we also recognise that some volunteers may still have worries
about their participation in the volunteer programme. We shall continue
to work closely with those people and listen to their concerns."
Notes To Editors
- The PDVMAP was established in February 2001 to investigate the concerns
of former volunteers who felt their ill-health might be linked to
their participation in the Volunteers Programme at Porton Down, Wiltshire,
in the 1950s.
- All volunteers who took part in the assessment programme were independently
referred by their GPs. Information obtained was analysed to determine
whether clinical diagnoses and symptoms reported had any relationship
to chemical exposures.
- Although an MoD programme, it was conducted by physicians operating
in total independence of the department. MoD had no say in the structure
of the programme or the results contained within Professor Lee's paper.
- The MoD has a dedicated helpline for former volunteers concerned
about their participation in the programme -0800 783 2521.
- To request an interview with Professor Harry Lee, or for further
information, call Charlie Morton in the Defence Press Office on 020
7218 5903.
- For a copy of Professor Lee's report contact Brenda Hazelwood at
Porton Down Medical Assessment Programme on 020 7202 8323.
Dstl
Dstl (the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) is the centre of
scientific excellence for the Ministry of Defence, housing one of the
largest groups of scientists and engineers in public service in the
country. Its 3,000 strong workforce includes some of the nation's most
talented and creative scientists with the brief to ensure that the UK
Armed Forces and Government are supported in-house by world class scientific
advice. For more information visit www.dstl.gov.uk.
For further information, please contact:
Sue Ellison
01980 613933
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