[ RadSafe ] Communicating with the public and the press

[Otto G. Raabe]

August  18, 2008

When speaking with the public, Congress, or the press, there are two 
four-letter words that we should carefully avoid: "RISK" and "DOSE".

To the public these words mean and imply very different negative 
ideas than what we intend. We can substitute "CHANCE" and "LEVELS" to 
replace them.

This is the "risk communication" message we need to deliver:

"Low levels of ionizing radiation are not hazardous, not dangerous, 
and not a threat! "

Otto



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Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
Center for Health & the Environment
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
E-Mail: ograabe at ucdavis.edu
Phone: (530) 752-7754   FAX: (530) 758-6140
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