Brussels, 29/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The French MEP Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA) has criticised the “rejection” this week by France, both by the health minister, Marisol Touraine, and the French radio protection and nuclear safety institute (IRSN), of Italian research noting a sharp increase in thyroid disease in Corsica after the radioactive cloud following Chernobyl accident passed over in April 1986.
Rivasi, a founder of the French independent committee for research and information about radioactivity (CRIIRAD), describes as “irresponsible behaviour” the French authorities' rejection of the research “by a credible and competent team of researchers in response to a European call for tenders”. “Recognising the dangers of low doses of radiation would challenge our radioactivity protection standards and lead to a definitive condemnation of nuclear materials on health grounds”, she pointed out, adding that she would be calling for better European standards in a debate at the European Parliament on the draft directive on radio protection. (EH/transl.fl)