The final report, Research into the Toxicological Effects of Chemicals used in the F-111 Deseal/Reseal (DSRS) Programs, was completed in 2005. The study was undertaken by the University of Sydney to examine the toxicological effects of chemicals used in the F-111 DSRS programs, in particular the chemical SR-51. The aims of the study were to examine the toxicological effect of SR-51 on memory loss in mice, the effect of temperature changes on the toxicity profile of SR-51 and whether SR-51 caused cancer through the process of DNA damage.

Results from the third study of mortality and cancer incidence among F-111 aircraft maintenance personnel, commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs, were released on 20 February 2009 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Third study of mortality and cancer incidence in aircraft maintenance personnel: A continuing study of F-111 Deseal/Reseal personnel, is a follow-up study into mortality and cancer incidence in aircraft maintenance personnel involved in the F-111 aircraft Deseal/Reseal (DSRS) programs between 1977 and 1999. Findings from this study are consistent with the 2004 study. Findings indicate that although overall cancer incidence in men who were involved in DSRS programs was higher than the Australian male population, the numbers were too small to be statistically significant. Additionally, overall mortality was lower for DSRS personnel when compared with the Australian male population.

The AIHW believes that the small numbers make interpretation of these results inconclusive and recommends that the study be repeated in 2011 when more data will be available to improve certainty about the findings.

The final report, Oberon Class Submarine Occupational Hygiene Project, was submitted by the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health to the Australian Government Department of Defence on 28 February 2006. The study retrospectively developed an exposure profile for the submariners. This was done by triangulating information from many sources, including available scientific and technical literature, assessment of the decommissioned HMAS ONSLOW by two senior occupational hygienists and two focus group sessions with Submariners.

Although documentation of occupational hygiene assessments during operation of the Oberon Class Submarines was very scarce, the report detailed numerous hazards experienced by the submariners.  These include air quality, including diesel fumes and exhaust, carbon monoxide and lack of oxygen, psychological, musculoskeletal and noise hazards.

On 10 November 2006 representatives from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA), Department of Defence and Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health met with members of the Submariners Association at the Sydney DVA offices to discuss the reports findings. Representatives of the Submariners Association indicated that they felt the report was an accurate reflection of the nature of workplace conditions faced by submariners.

The report of the Fourth study of mortality and cancer incidence in aircraft maintenance personnel:

A continuing study of F-111 Deseal/Reseal personnel, was released on 17 October 2016 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The broad purpose of this follow up MCIS study was to see if there was a higher rate of cancer or mortality among Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and civilian aircraft maintenance personnel involved with F-111 Deseal/Reseal (DSRS) between 1974 and 2000 compared to other RAAF personnel who were not involved.  

The key findings are broadly consistent with the previous studies taking into consideration the additional years of follow-up and differences in the datasets. The latest study added information from ‘Tier classifications’ to identify more personnel in the study group. 

Higher cancer incidence and lower mortality incidence among the F-111 DSRS group was found to be statistically significant due to the greater number of cases that have occurred over time.

The two most recent Australian Defence Force Firefighter occupational health research studies are now available.

DVA commissioned an independent Occupational Health Research Studies Review Examining the Occupational Health of Firefighters (October 2017) to assess the current level of medical-scientific evidence for 12 cancers prescribed under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Act 2011 (Firefighters Act), plus melanoma. The review was led by Professor Nicola Fear at King’s Centre for Military Health Research, King’s College London, United Kingdom and consists of three reports:

Chemical Review (April 2018) to develop toxicological profiles for 132 chemicals listed as contaminants within the RAAF Base, Point Cook former fire training area.

The Firefighter Chemical Review – Extension to Review Additional Chemical Substances reviews an additional 78 chemicals.

DVA has commissioned an independent ADF Firefighter Chemical Review (April 2018) to develop toxicological profiles for 132 chemicals listed as contaminants within the RAAF Base, Point Cook former fire training area.

The review determined how the chemicals (and adverse health outcomes) fit within the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles regime. The Firefighter Chemical Review was undertaken by Dr David Douglas at Douglas Consulting Australia. The review report is now available:

The final report, Examination of the Potential Exposure of RAN Personnel to Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans via Drinking Water, was submitted by the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (ENTOX) and Queensland Health Scientific Services to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in December 2002.

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential for exposure of sailors to contaminants via drinking water during the Vietnam War. On Navy ships and Army small ships, potable water was produced from evaporative distillation of surrounding estuarine water. This water may have contained contaminants in solution.

The study to investigate the health effects of participation in the British nuclear tests in Australia is reported in two volumes.

Volume 1, the radiation dosimetry study, used data from the tests and modelling to estimate the radiation exposure of participants in the tests.

Volume 2 includes: the mortality study, which compared the number of deaths in test participants with that of the general population from the time of the nuclear tests to the end of 2001; and the cancer study, which compared the number of cases of cancer, whether fatal or not, in test participants, with that in the general population from 1982 to the end of 2001, and compared radiation exposure of participants with and without leukaemia.

Allostatic Load: A Review of the Literature was funded under the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Applied Research Program and conducted by the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health.

The report summarises the concepts of homeostasis, allostasis and allostatic load, how chronic stress leads to allostatic load, and examples of the physical and mental conditions which correlate with allostatic load. Allostatic load is an evolving model and only one of several models devised to examine and understand the long term health effects of stress. The model cannot explain all causes of ill-health and disease, however it is emerging as a useful model for investigating how stress experienced during military service may impact negatively on health. There are significant opportunities to improve our understanding of measurement tools and the myriad of challenges related to establishing causality between stress and longer term health outcomes.