Sixth cancer death renews Manchester radiation fears

A seventy-year old professor is said to have become the sixth victim of Rutherford's radiation at the University of Manchester, which is thought may already have claimed five lives.

Room 2.62 and the rooms adjacent to it at the university—used at the start of the 20th century by physicist Ernest Rutherford to conduct nuclear experiments—have been at the centre of a storm of suspicion in recent years following a cluster of cases of cancer amongst people who worked there for long periods of time.

Professor Tom Whiston is the latest former occupant of one of the rooms to develop pancreatic cancer, having only recently suffered the tragic deaths of two of his former colleagues, Dr Hugh Wagner and Dr Arthur Reader – aged 62 and 69 respectively. Both acquired identically situated cancers.

The University of Manchester have been reluctant to admit to any connection between the deaths and potential sources of radiation within the buildings. A spokesperson said: “We believe the evidence presented to date does not support a connection between the deaths of former staff and possible exposure to radioactive contamination.”

The rooms surrounding 2.62 have previously been investigated following the death of psychologist, Dr John Clarke who worked in the room below and died from a brain tumour in 1992. Computer assistant Vanessa Santos-Leitao, who worked directly next to 2.62, also suffered from a brain tumour and died in February 2008 at 25 years of age.

Suspicion was originally aroused when the history of Rutherford's experiments was uncovered. Dangerous levels of radioactive radon and polonium were used in many of the laboratories up until 1947 – prolonged exposure to which is known to have a direct effect on the growth of malignant tumours.

Professor David Coggon from the Medical Research Council was called in following the radiation scare, to lead an independent review into possible health risks associated with the university buildings. The University will await the results of this latest investigation before taking any further action.

Despite acknowledging the necessity for an independent review, the University of Manchester did not believe there to be any risk to the current occupants of the Rutherford Building.

A spokesperson revealed: “The Rutherford Building was surveyed by an independent specialist company as part of the refurbishment in 2006 and some minor contamination—below levels reportable to the Health and Safety Executive—were found in a limited number of locations. This was removed by specialist contractors and the building was re-surveyed prior to the move into the building of its current occupants.”

However, Liz Graham, who is acting as solicitor for Hugh Wagner's widow in ensuing litigation, said: "Pancreatic cancer is not a common form of cancer, and three cases is a startlingly high incidence," maintaining that a possible link between radioactive material in the buildings and the cancer deaths still existed.

Other former occupants of the Rutherford Building are also said to be considering a claim against the university.