12 X-ray technicians at faculty hospital diagnosed with thyroid cancer in Turkey

ANKARA – Doğan News Agency

A Turkish health union has filed an application with the Labor Ministry demanding a workplace safety inspection, after 12 X-ray technicians working at a university hospital in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri were diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

In its application, the Turkish Health Union (Türk Sağlık-Sen) said 12 technicians working at Erciyes University’s Medical Faculty Hospital had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, however no inspection was carried out and no measures were taken by workplace health and safety unit after the diagnoses.  

“It is certain that radiation dose measurements were not made in accordance with the regulations, and that the unit has an environment that may cause occupational disease. Indeed, the fact that 12 personnel were diagnosed with the same disease indicates this situation,” said the application.