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Written question asked by Lincoln Jopp (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 June 2026. It was answered by Calvin Bailey (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Military Aircraft: Exhaust Emissions

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on whether studies have been done on potential links between military aircraft exhaust emissions and rare cancers.

Answer

Two studies have been commissioned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to examine the potential links between military aircraft exhaust emissions and rare cancers.

In 2022, the Institute of Naval Medicine examined if there were any causal links between exposure to benzene from Sea King helicopter exhaust and the incidence of leiomyosarcoma and multiple myeloma.

In 2024, the Independent Medical Expert Group was commissioned to assess whether there is a causal link between helicopter exhaust emissions and rare cancers.

Both reports found that the available evidence did not meet internationally accepted causation criteria.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10442
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Exhaust emissions Military aircraft Rare cancers
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk