[ RadSafe ] Re: "Science" reports on background radiation and health

[Muckerheide, James]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 9:38 AM

> And what is the paradox? What is important are results
> of epidemiological studies of the populations.  The
> statement that ". . . appear to be even healthier and
> to live longer than those living in control  areas
> that are not classified as HBRAs . . ." does not sound
> like a scientific statement to me.  I remember years

Ok. "Epi studies consistently indicate lower cancer rates and other diseases,
and increased longevity."

> As noted in the BEIR V, BEIR VII, UNSCEAR and other
> reports, biological response from low dose, low-dose
> rates differ from those of high dose rate exposures.

Right.  That's why assuming a linear response is invalid.  Looking at the
actual data vs. their biological functions shows that low doses are
beneficial, i.e., these different biological responses enhance immunity and
many other functions, rather than stimulate "emergency repairs"
(error-prone).

Regards, Jim Muckerheide
========================

> --- Maury Siskel <maurysis at ev1.net> wrote:
> 
> > Many Radsafe readers would find the linked article
> > in Science an
> > intriguing account. But I agree that when you come
> > to the section about
> > "The Radiation Paradox", your ears will stand up --
> > Dog's did when I
> > read it to him. <g>
> > Cheers,
> > Maury&Dog
> >
> > ====================
> > Muckerheide, James wrote:
> >
> > > Friends,
> > >
> > > An essay on 'medical geology' in the current
> > Science magazine includes
> > > the following section. The article is at:
> > >
> >
> http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/309/5736/883
> >
> > . . .
> > >
> > > The most interesting feature in all these cases is
> > that the people
> > > living in these HBRAs do not appear to suffer any
> > adverse health
> > > effects as a result of their high exposures to
> > radiation. On the
> > > contrary, in some cases the individuals living in
> > these HBRAs appear
> > > to be even healthier and to live longer than those
> > living in control
> > > areas that are not classified as HBRAs. These
> > phenomena pose many
> > > intriguing questions for medical geologists.
> > >
> 
> 
> +++++++++++++++++++
> "Every now and then a man's mind is stretched by a new idea and never
> shrinks back to its original proportion." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
> 
> -- John
> John Jacobus, MS
> Certified Health Physicist
> e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com
> 
> 
> 
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