Separate investigations by the British and Australian governments are under way to review research judged to be relevant to the estimated 22 000 British and 15 000 Australian servicemen who were exposed to radiation from British atomic tests in Australia and the Christmas Islands during 1952-62.

Both the British and Australian investigations into the tests–which were carried out at Maralinga in Southern Australia, the Monte Bello Islands in Western Australia, and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean–will be based on research into the health …