Article

Epidemiological study of mortality among veterans of French nuclear tests in the Pacific (1966–1996)

SEPIA-Santé, 4 Place Jules Ferry, 56100 LORIENT, France

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Received: 19 December 2024
Accepted: 24 May 2025

Abstract

France conducted 193 nuclear tests (both atmospheric and underground) from 1966 to 1996 in the Pacific. The mortality in a sub-cohort of male veterans (n=26,514) who were monitored for external radiation exposure during their participation in the tests has been studied for the period from 1966 to 2015. The mortality was compared to those of the French population using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), then estimated according to dosimetry status using categorical regression models adjusted for attained age, calendar period, and military unit. “Non-null dosimetry” (at least one positive dosimetric result, i.e., higher than the threshold value of 0.2 mSv) was reported for 8% of the veterans. In total, 8,094 deaths were recorded. The all-cause and major causes SMRs were < 1. The SMR estimated for tumors was close to 1, i.e., the sub-mortality was lower than that of other major causes of death. There were non-significant excesses in the "non-null dosimetry" group relative to the "null dosimetry" group for deaths related to mesothelioma and thyroid, central nervous system, bone, and hematological malignancies. A sensitivity analysis performed on veterans (after the exclusion of health services) who wore their first dosimeter during atmospheric tests highlighted significant excess mortality for bone tumors, hematological malignancies and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Further analyses should consider extended follow-up and include ionizing radiation doses and the dates of exposure.