A special help-line set up by the defence ministry has received over 500 reports from (former) staff in connection with the toxic weapon cleaning substance PX-10 which was used by the army in the 1970s and 1980s, says ANP news service.

Of these, 27 claim they have serious medical complaints as a result of coming into contact with the cleaner which was banned in 1995. The defence department recently admitted PX-10 contained cancer-inducing elements.