[ RadSafe ] Re: Radiation Hormesis

[BLHamrick at aol.com]

And, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that anti-everythings also argue  just 
the opposite (of what Floyd noted below) about animal studies when it suits  
them.
 
Just a couple of weeks ago (December 18, 2007), there was a very sensible  
editorial in the LA Times about the ongoing uproar regarding phthalates in  
plastics ("Stop Scaring Us").  The author was roundly attacked in three  letters 
(published December 23, 2007).  (One from the eminent scientist  Senator Diane 
Feinstein - said with tongue firmly in cheek).  And, of  course, one of the 
criticisms was that the columnist had dared to suggest that  because phthalates 
cause cancer in rats, it doesn't necessarily mean it will  cause it in humans.
 
The letter to the editor stated, "[The columnist] repeats the old saw that  
rats have different metabolism than people. So he'd rather test people? Animal  
testing to predict risks posed to humans by toxic substances is a  
well-established principle that provides the basis for the nation's fundamental  cancer 
policy and a host of laws seeking to protect us against this deadly  disease. 
If a chemical can induce tumors in mice, we are not immune."
 
The problem I have with the anti-everythings (aside from the  cherry-picking) 
is they seem to be quite willing to make any argument, even  to the point 
where they may make two completely inconsistent arguments depending  on the day 
of the week (or the audience), to support their agenda.
 
Barbara L. Hamrick
 
In a message dated 12/27/2007 11:10:49 AM Pacific Standard Time,  
Floyd.Flanigan at nmcco.com writes:

I am a  firm supporter of Hormesis but with all of the other
environmental  influences which can mask most true expressions of the
Hormetic Effect, I  fear it will be a very long time before we see such a
study. I suppose it  could be conducted on lab animals, but no matter
what evidence was  produced, the nay-sayers would find their way back to
the fact that humans  have a different physiology than the test  subjects.







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