French Polynesia's nuclear veteran association, Moruroa e Tatou, has launched a survey which it hopes will indicate a link between the tests and genetic damage.
The survey will be conducted with the help of New Zealand's Massey University.
Moruroa e Tatou is an association of former workers on French Polynesia's now dismantled nuclear testing facilities of Moruroa and Fangataufa.
The Association co-ordinator, John Doom, said the study would cost around 200 hundred thousand US dollars.
He said they would ask the French state to take its share of responsibility by funding part of the research project.
