TESTING at the Atherton Fire Station, west of Cairns, has found no issues of concern despite five reported cases of cancer over the past 15 years, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said yesterday.  

Cases involving both current and former staff prompted the testing carried out by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency on the recommendation of a Queensland Health study.

Staff at the fire station were briefed last night, Mr Roberts told state parliament.

Mr Roberts said the ARPANSA report found extremely low frequency magnetic fields.

He said they were low in comparison with levels found in homes  and offices.

Ambient levels of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from external sources were also very far below Australian and international health standards, he said.

But a modest increase in the dose of gamma rays was found in a corner of the lecture room.

This was caused by an obsolete smoke detector, probably containing radium and kept for demonstrations.

The smoke detector had since been disposed of, he said.

Studies were also being carried out into the incidence of cancer  in other firefighters in Queensland and the state government  supported a national study into the incidence of cancer among  firefighters.

"The government takes this issue very seriously and we are committed to implementing all recommendations from the Queensland  Health study," Mr Roberts said.

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