The Federal Government has ordered an urgent investigation into the possible exposure of Australian Defence Force and civilian personnel to the toxic heavy metal cadmium aboard Australia's Collins class submarines.
However, the Defence Department is emphatic cadmium is ''perfectly safe provided correct procedures are in place''.
Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet said yesterday a contamination scare on the submarine fleet was ''a very serious issue and it's being treated very seriously''.
The Australian Submarine Corporation suspended maintenance on Collins class submarines yesterday, after workers raised concerns about cadmium levels, a heavy metal used to coat electrical components to minimise corrosion.
Cadmium and its compounds are extremely toxic, even in very low concentrations and can produce a range of adverse health effects, including cancer.
The toxic scare reportedly follows the fitting last year of United States Navy components later found to include electroplated cadmium coatings.
However, the Navy has also indicated cadmium has always been used in the Collins class vessels to prevent corrosion.
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