Dr. John R. Burgess

John R. BurgessDepartment of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania

John R. Burgess, MD, FRACP; Ruben David, BSc; Timothy M. Greenaway, PhD, FRACP; V. Parameswaran, PhD; Joseph J. Shepherd, MD, FRACS

John R. Burgess, MD, FRACP; Ruben David, BSc; Timothy M. Greenaway, PhD, FRACP; V. Parameswaran, PhD; Joseph J. Shepherd, MD, FRACS
...
Reprints: J. R. Burgess, MD, FRACP, Department of Diabetes and Endocrine Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, GPO Box 1061L, Hobart 7001, Australia (e-mail: jburges{at}postoffice.utas.edu.au>).

Dr John Burgess, Endocrinologist, Royal Hobart Hospital

Royal Hobart Hospital endocrinologist John Burgess has conducted a major Tasmanian study and says atmospheric nuclear testing is a potential cause.

"A link between current incidence trends and past iodine deficiency and radioiodine exposure during the 1950s and early 1960s is possible," Dr Burgess said.
...
"What concerns us is the impact on human and animal health," Dr Burgess said.

"The hypothesis is that there is an impact from nuclear fallout in the past but it is not possible to say it definitely."

Dr Burgess said nuclear fallout from testing in the South Pacific between 1950 and 1962 could also be behind the surge in PTC in Tasmania.

"Children born during this period were potentially exposed to fallout at a time when community iodine nutrition was suboptimal, enhancing the risk of thyroidal exposure to ionizing radiation," he said.

John R. BurgessDepartment of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania