Cancer-stricken Danes fight for recognition, money decades after Greenland nuclear disaster
Two Danish men, Jeffrey Carswell and Heinz Eriksen, have come forward claiming that they developed cancer after assisting in the cleanup of plutonium-contaminated snow and ice following an American bomber crash in Greenland back in 1968. The incident involved an American B-52 Stratofortress carrying hydrogen bombs that crashed near the Thule Air Force base, releasing radiation and contaminating the surrounding area.
Carswell and Eriksen, who were among 1,000 Danish civilians called in to help with the cleanup efforts, participated in Operation Crested Ice. This operation involved transporting contaminated snow and ice to a designated area, where it was stored in tanks and then sent to the US for remediation. Both men worked in hazardous conditions, with Eriksen facing water from melted contaminated snow and ice and putting out fires caused by welding on the tanks containing plutonium-infused snow.
Despite their involvement in the cleanup efforts, Carswell and Eriksen have struggled for recognition and compensation from the US government for their illnesses. Carswell was diagnosed with stomach and esophageal cancer in the 1980s, while Eriksen had a cancerous tumor-ridden kidney removed in 2005. They have been fighting for decades to receive the same compensation as American workers who fell ill after handling the radioactive material.
The two men recently filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court to enforce their Freedom of Information Act requests against key officials at the Department of Energy and the National Institute for Occupational Safety. They accuse these officials of withholding information and conspiring to prevent their inclusion in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, which provides benefits to federal employees who develop certain cancers from their work.
Their attorney, Ian Anderson, highlighted the sacrifices made by the Danish workers who volunteered to assist the US during a time of need, emphasizing that many of them have suffered health consequences as a result. Despite facing challenges in their legal battle, Carswell and Eriksen remain determined to seek justice and hold the US government accountable for the consequences of the nuclear disaster in Greenland.
This case sheds light on the long-term impacts of nuclear accidents and the importance of recognizing and compensating those who were exposed to hazardous materials during cleanup efforts. The ongoing fight for recognition by Carswell and Eriksen serves as a reminder of the lasting effects of such disasters and the need for transparency and accountability in addressing the health concerns of those affected.
