[ RadSafe ] baby in x-ray scanner

[osuleiman at comcast.net]

Obviously I did not communicate very well.   The psychological anxiety of those who learned that the child had been exposed to RADIATION, not the child.  Pardon me.

The anxiety associated with radiation does cause stress in those who don't understand the nature of radiation.  This effect can probably be likened to the placebo effect, except in the other direction.  When subjects receive a placebo, the simple expectation of a benefit does have an effect known as the placebo effect.  I suspect anxiety, regardless if it is based on science or ignorance, will have a similar, but negative effect.  We also know that increased stress has been associated with increased rates of cancer. Some suspect that the stress somehow suppresses the immune system.  

Discussing the airport baggage incident to the extent we do, without really learning or knowing that we are dealing with extremely low radiation doses,  contributes to the anxiety level of those who don't know. 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: LNMolino at aol.com 

> 
> 
> In a message dated 12/23/2006 10:19:08 A.M. Central Standard Time, 
> osuleiman at comcast.net writes: 
> 
> however the psychological effect, which is biological, does indeed impact, 
> but we can't quantify it very well. 
> 
> 
> In a baby? What psychological effect? the child will only read of this in 
> the future, he or she will have no recall of the event. 
> 
> Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET 
> FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI 
> Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant 
> 
> LNMolino at aol.com 
> 
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