King's College London

Army bomb disposal veterans may have a significantly increased risk of developing bladder cancer compared to the general public, according to a newly published study.

A research letter published in the medical journal BJU International and at the European Association of Urology Annual Congress in Madrid suggests that incidence of bladder cancer among British Army veteran bomb disposal officers under 70 may be five times higher than among the general public, raising urgent concerns about occupational exposure to hazardous substances.

The study was conducted by a team from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), University of Birmingham, King’s College London, University of Glasgow and South Wales NHS Trust, and has identified a disproportionately high rate of bladder cancer among the cohort of former bomb disposal operatives following a survey of around 30% (688 of 2300) of veterans serving in Explosive Ordnance Disposal since 1970.

Dr Gareth Collett CBE, an Executive Director at UWTSD’s Wales Institute for Science and Art (WISA) and the study’s lead author said: 

“This research isn’t about blame; it’s about raising awareness amongst veterans and general practitioners, protecting those still serving, and ensuring that lessons are learned. Our findings suggest that there is a significant link between exposure to certain explosives encountered by ammunition technicians during their careers and bladder cancer, and a definitive study based on these findings could lead to real change that saves lives.”

The research was inspired by the personal experience of Dr Collett, a retired British Army Brigadier, and former head of UK bomb disposal. After being diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2023, Gareth shared his diagnosis in a private social media group for retired and serving ammunition technicians.

Within days, other members of that group reported similar diagnoses, leading Dr Collett and a team of urologists, epidemiologists, and scientists to investigate whether there is a higher incidence among the population as the lifetime incidence of bladder cancer in the general population is below 1per cent.

Further investigation linked the exposure to the disposal of munitions containing nitro-explosives such as TNT, and their combustion products. Studies have long established that occupational exposure to certain chemicals increases the risk of bladder cancer, particularly among professions such as tyre and chemical industry workers but the team believe that this is the first study linking the disease to explosive ordnance disposal.

Implications for Veteran Health and Policy Change

Service charities have already implemented self-help guidance on early detection, potentially saving lives by enabling earlier diagnosis. The study’s authors are calling for further large-scale research into the long-term health impacts of explosive exposure, changes in military safety regulations, as well as regular screening programmes for at-risk individuals, and raised awareness amongst GP’s when dealing with veterans exposed to explosives.