[ RadSafe ] Background radiation vs. cancer Incidence

[franz.schoenhofer at chello.at]

Sorry RADAFErs,

I have no idea, how this message was sent. I actually intended to write a short comment (see below), but because of constant problems with the internet here in Sevilla, Spain I finally left it. Furthermore I principally do not repeat knowingly all the previous posts in my replies. (Maybe the list-owner should remind the RADSAFE community on this topic again.....)

What I intended to write, was a kind of warning: 

It is to easy to say "Elevated radiation - elevated (or reduced...) cancer rates. There is far more information needed! 

What kind of radiation? What is "background radiation"? External gamma radiation? Radon and daughter products?  Cosmic radiation? Inhalation? Ingestion (food and drinking water)? 

What kind of cancer? Lung cancer from external gamma radiation or Cs-137 uptake (seems unlikely).

There are people on RADSAFE far more knowleadgable on radiation and cancer - maybe they could comment?

Best regard,

Franz
 
Franz Schoenhofer, PhD, MinRat
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
Austria
mobile: ++43 699 1706 1227


---- franz.schoenhofer at chello.at schrieb:
> ---- "Perle schrieb:
> > Thanks Jerry,
> > 
> > That was the kind of information I was looking for. Any chance to obtain a copy of your papers?
> > 
> > Regards,
> > 
> > Sandy
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Jerry Cohen
> > Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 8:41 AM
> > To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Background radiation vs. cancer Incidence
> > 
> > Sandy,
> > There are such studies. For example, in 1980, I presented a paper at the IRPA
> > meeting in Israel  that showed a significant negative correlation between
> > background  radiation levels and cancer incidence in the USA. At about the same
> > time, papers showing similar results in India, China, and Finland were
> > published. Since these studies showed results that ran counter to the common
> > wisdom at the time (ICRP, NCRP, etc.), they were ignored, and remain so to this
> > day. As the saying goes,"you can't fight city hall"     Jerry
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> --
> Franz Schoenhofer, PhD, MinRat
> Habicherg. 31/7
> A-1160 Vienna
> Austria
> mobile: ++43 699 1706 1227
> 
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