Kakadu cancer cluster not linked to mine radiation, report finds

HIGHER rates of cancer and fetal deaths found in Aboriginal communities living near the Ranger Uranium Mine cannot be linked to ionizing radiation, according to a six-year investigation

The Ranger Uranium Mine is 250 kilometres east of Darwin.

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HIGHER rates of cancer and fetal deaths found in Aboriginal communities living near the Ranger Uranium Mine cannot be linked to ionizing radiation, according to a six-year investigation.

The NT Health-led investigation started in 2014 to look at a cluster of cancer and fetal deaths in Aboriginal people living in the Gunbalanya and Kakadu area.

The investigation found head and neck cancers and lung cancer, and fetal deaths in the area were higher than the general Aboriginal population in the Top End.

There were 98 cases of cancer diagnosed in the Gunbalanya-Kakadu community between 1991-2004 — almost twice what it was expected to be for a population of that size.

The number of cases was 3.7 times higher than expected for mouth and throat cancers and 2.2 times higher for lung cancer.

The fetal death rate in Gunbalanya-Kakadu was 83 per cent higher than the rest of the Top End Aboriginal population — with 22.5 fetal deaths per 1000 births.

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The report found no evidence to directly link ionizing radiation from the mine to the cancer spike but linked higher rates of risk factors like smoking, alcohol consumption and poor diet to elevated cancer rates in the region.

Smoking prevenance was also 12 per cent higher for the Gunbalanya-Kakadu region than in comparison cohorts, but the report said that still only explained a very small part of the excess fetal deaths.

Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation CEO Justin O’Brien, representing the Mirrar traditional owners, said they were now calling on both NT and federal governments to institute ongoing comprehensive health monitoring in Gunbalanya and Kakadu.

“This process has taken too long, we have not had a stakeholder meeting for two years,” he said.

“There is not evidence that these increased death rates are caused by the mine, also not enough evidence for sure that it’s definitely smoking and drinking, rates of which are higher in the area compared to Top End Aboriginal population.

“Because nothing can be definitively ruled in or ruled out the precautionary principle should apply, and we should redouble our efforts and properly and consistently monitor the health of the local Aboriginal population.

An NT Health spokeswoman said the report had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“NT Health were unable to travel out to traditional owners to discuss the report due to the Biosecurity Act restriction access to communities,” she said.