[ RadSafe ] Effect of Ionizing Radiation Formula - must include benefit

[howard long]

Are health physicists ONLY protectors from harm, or, like physicians,
can HPs improve health with supplemental radiation?

I contend HPs can and will decrease cancer (not just prevent increase),
improve healing (I'm looking at Jerry Cuttler's "Disinfecting Wounds With Radiation"),
and decrease premature deaths (although likely not as much as the water, food 
and waste engineers who belie Malthus).

Positive effects must be in any formula describing the effects of radiation.
Cameron demonstrated how the one-tailed test (showing only harm and not benefit
in the Nuclear Shipyard Worker Study), showed only the lack of harm. 
It failed to show amazing reduction of cancer and low total mortality rate (to 0.76) 
with exposure to supplemental radiation of 0.5 rem (healthy worker effect well controlled).
That's about what I get from sitting on the thoriated welding rods ~3 hours/d.
Howard Long

PS I have done appendectomies and am glad JJ never had direct responsibility for anyone's life.
Every patient is different and not entirely predictable. Hormesis amd low dose treatment  
also may be as much art as science, when applied to variable individuals.  

PPS LACK of excercise has been proven to aggravate many degenerative diseases.
Physiotherapists would love to take on  JJ.
Athletic trainers might convince even JJ of positive effects of exercise.
 Just look at the TV ads!  

----- Original Message ----
From: John Jacobus <crispy_bird at yahoo.com>
To: howard long <hflong at pacbell.net>; Otto G. Raabe <ograabe at ucdavis.edu>; radsafe at radlab.nl
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:00:44 PM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Excess relative risk


Dr. Long,
There are many types of risk, but generally, you start with a baseline of health.  It has never been shown that exercise extends your life.  Usually one diets, looses weight and takes aspirin to try to "counteract" diseases and medical conditions that many people have brought upon themselves, like over-eating, smoking, etc.  I am sure you have seen patients in your practice who smoke, over-eat, etc. and are in good health. 
 
As for siting on welding rods, I doubt that you will find that in any medical book or article.  Has it improved your health, or is it your belief that it does?
 
I am not sure what type of medicine you practice, but I doubt any other physician would perform an appendectomy without making a diagnosis.  

howard long <hflong at pacbell.net> wrote:
Is not, "negative excess risk", or less risk of a heart attack, cancer, death, etc,
the reason you exercise, diet, take low dose ASA, and I also sit on thoriated welding rods, John?
 
We don't wait for "proof" before doing an appendectomy, either, 
believing that the injury from waiting is greater than the injury from occasionally operating unnecessarily.
 
Howard Long 

----- Original Message ----
From: John Jacobus <crispy_bird at yahoo.com>
To: howard long <hflong at pacbell.net>; Otto G. Raabe <ograabe at ucdavis.edu>; radsafe at radlab.nl
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 2:08:48 PM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Excess relative risk


Of course, there is no proof of negative excess risk.  


howard long <hflong at pacbell.net> wrote:
What would make clear in that formula that kD is 
a NEGATIVE excess relative risk when radiation exposure is under ~20cGy (rad), rapid rate, 
i.e. hormesis? +-kD?

Howard Long

----- Original Message ----
From: Otto G. Raabe 
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 12:11:10 PM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Excess relative risk

January 11, 2008

If R=R(0)[1+kD] then the excess relative risk is kD.

Excess relative risk is {R-R(0)}/R(0) = {R(0)[1+kD]-R(0)}/R(0) =kD

Otto




+++++++++++++++++++
"If history teaches any lesson it is that no nation has an inherent right to greatness. Greatness has to be earned and continually re-earned."
- Norman Augustine, Chairman of the National Academies Committee 

-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail: crispy_bird at yahoo.com 


Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.





+++++++++++++++++++
"If history teaches any lesson it is that no nation has an inherent right to greatness. Greatness has to be earned and continually re-earned."
- Norman Augustine, Chairman of the National Academies Committee 

-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail: crispy_bird at yahoo.com


Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.