Most of the previous focus has been on cancer, which is an important problem. However, there are many other risks arising from nuclear weapons production. A large variety of toxic materials was used in weapons production, posing additional health dangers, including non-cancer risks. It is clear that the U.S. government has failed in its responsibility to thoroughly investigate these other types of health problems. Some say links between exact toxic agents and specific illnesses should be established before medical care is offered to the ill.
Many records are flawed and of poor quality.
We have even come across fabricated data. But once the plausibility of certain types of medical conditions is established, the burden of proof should not be on the people who are ill. I don't believe health studies should be carried out by DOE, which, as owner of these plants, has a manifest conflict of interest. We need some other agency, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with oversight by another appropriate agency such as the surgeon general's office. I want to stress that it is very important that studies should not swallow up a disproportionate amount of resources.