Although a Health Canada official told Port Hope council November 20 that a study conducted by the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC) was no cause for concern, and the findings are typical of uranium levels in anyone in Canada, the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee claims Dr. Jack Cornett suppressed findings of the study revealing human uranium contamination in the town.

"The position of Health Canada stated by Dr. Cornett is inaccurate and irresponsible," stated chair and Port Hope resident Faye More in a press release issued by the committee. "Instead of investigating Port Hope's contamination, Health Canada is trying to dismiss the important findings by saying everyone in Canada has these radioactive materials in their bodies. Once again, we see Health Canada's unwillingness to deal with our realities and fully investigate possible health impacts of 75 years of exposure to nuclear contaminants in Port Hope."

Dr. Cornett's comments came after a press conference orchestrated by the committee on November 13 on the findings of UMRC's Port Hope study, showing nuclear contamination in the bodies of former Port Hope nuclear industry workers and residents.

The study of 11 urine specimens included two controls and nine samples of residents and former workers. Ms. More stated the report stated these samples showed radioactive contaminants and anomalies in 100 per cent of those Port Hope samples, including a child under age 14. The findings identified nuclear reactor waste, depleted uranium, and enriched uranium 234. It found former workers eliminating radioactive industrial heavy metal toxins in their urine as late as 23 years after retirement, she stated.

Tedd Weyman, UMRC deputy director, stated Health Canada's staff have misunderstood the basic physics in the findings made public two weeks ago.

"Health Canada attempts to attribute the contamination to current daily intake of naturally occurring uranium in water. The lab data shows a very different picture," stated Mr. Weyman in a press release. "They show chronic internal contamination from inhaling airborne radioactive toxins. What we found is not naturally occurring; the contaminants are manmade, commercial nuclear materials, referred to as 'dirty uranium.'"

Mr. Weyman stated "there are no scientific literature or government reports agreeing with Dr. Cornett's statement that it is typical of Canadians' bodies to contain spent nuclear reactor fuel, depleted uranium or enriched 234 Uranium."

Mr. Weyman noted the study's two control samples, taken from persons who don't live or work in Port Hope, are not contaminated. "The controls show none of the contaminants Dr Cornett says are 'typical' in Canada."

During Dr. Cornett's appearance in Port Hope, Health Canada criticized the health concerns committee and UMRC, saying numerous attempts by Health Canada to acquire a copy of the study had been unsuccessful. Neither the committee nor UMRC have been contacted by Health Canada, stated the press release.

The committee wants comprehensive, multidisciplinary health studies and an investigation into health and regulatory agencies' denials of Port Hope's real health issues and what it calls the permitted ongoing contamination of the town. The study is posted on the Web sites of both organizations: www.porthopehealthconcerns.com and www.UMRC.net .

"I feel confident as MP for Northumberland-Quinte West, that the health and welfare of the Port Hope citizens has been properly addressed by Health Canada," said local Conservative MP Rick Norlock during a phone interview. "Health Canada is not aligned with any government - they are a group of scientists."

He added he does not believe the committee is acting in the community's best interests of the community and that, in fact, the committee's actions are endangering the health and welfare of Port Hope.