Army Says Radiation Levels at Iraqi Site Safe

A U.S. Army Health official says Fort Campbell troops serving in Iraq were exposed to radiation at levels considered safe.

Earlier this month, Army Sergeant Jason Boatright complained in news reports that he and other Fort Campbell soldiers got sick from radiation while stationed at the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center near Baghdad in 2005. The 23-thousand acre nuclear complex was considered Saddam Hussein’s crown jewel of nuclear research and contained sources of radiation, such as enriched uranium and nuclear fuel rods.

Army officials conducted a 10-day site survey for radiation two years before Fort Campbell soldiers arrived at Tuwaitha, and say the levels were considered safe by Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Melanson is the Head of Radiation at the Walter Reed Medical Center. He led the site survey in Iraq and says he’s confident, even today, four years after his research, that soldiers at Tuwaitha were not overexposed to radiation.

“I base that on the survey we did in 2003, all the monitoring we’ve done and the fact that most of the sources are gone. A good question is, is there medical testing available? Yes, there is. Based on what I know, I don’t recommend it, I don’t think it needs to be done but if soldiers are concerned, we’ll offer it.”

No soldiers from the post showed up for this morning’s hearing.

Fort Campbell officials also say no soldier, other than Sgt. Boatright, has asked to be tested for radiation, and his results won’t be available until next month. Post officials are holding two additional public hearings on the issue – tonight at 6 and tomorrow afternoon at 2.