[ RadSafe ] Communicating with the public and the press

[Bill Prestwich]

I do not believe there is a scientific definition of safe, nor should there
be, which is the heart of the problem. To the public safe is understood in a
binary context-either something is safe or its dangerous. It is this concept
which the anti-nuclear movement uses to make the claim that the LNT provides
scientific proof that there is no safe level of ionizing radiation. Leaving
aside the controversy surrounding the LNT, even if one accepts it the
anti-nuclear approach has to be based upon the absurd definition of safe as
an activity with zero risk. Science can quantify risk, but as you rightly
point out, is incapable of defining safe which is a subjective decision. 

Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of KARAM, PHILIP
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 10:28 AM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu; sperle at mirion.com
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Communicating with the public and the press

Part of the problem with using the word "safe" is that some people use it
qualitatively and others use it quantitatively. Clayton is using it
qualitatively - which is what most non-scientists tend to do. As he pointed
out, having a beer with friends is safe - even though we know in the back of
our minds that we might drive afterwards or the bar might have a natural gas
leak or the beer might be adulterated or whatever. But the risk from any of
those is low and in the back of our minds (if thought of at all) - we just
consider having a beer to be safe.

The problem is that - as scientists - we can't seem to take such a light
view of things. So we have to insist on a quantitative measurement - is one
chance in 1000 safe? What about one in a million? At what point (numerical
risk estimate) can we call something "safe?" If we are trying to be
quantitative about a term that everyone we're communicating with is using
qualitatively then we're not likely to be able to reach any sort of
consensus on whether or not we can use the word "safe" with regards to
anything.

Andy



-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Clayton J Bradt
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 1:38 PM
To: sperle at mirion.com
Cc: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Communicating with the public and the press



Sandy,

I think "safe" is easy as no quantification is necessary. In the common
usage: Riding a bike is safe. Driving a car is safe. Crossing the street is
safe. Spending a day at the beach is safe. Having a few drinks with friends
is safe. Travelling by commercial airline is safe. And doing all of these
things regularly is safe.

Exposure to low levels of radiation compares favorably with these sorts of
everyday activities and can be accurately described as "safe".

Clayton Bradt
Principal Radiophysicist
NYS Dept. of Health

****************************************
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 21:34:41 +0000
From: "Perle, Sandy" <sperle at mirion.com>
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Fwd:  Communicating with the public and the
		 press
To: "The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing
		 List"		 <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Message-ID:

<A4696FE53D1D8E4F9F9BA2265A58C99804E3BB1D at 406845-EXCH2.mirion.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

I would also be careful using the term "safe". A few years ago a request
came into N13 to consider forming a Working Group to define what is safe,
and this was rejected since it is not something that easily defines
quantitatively or qualitatively.

Tegards,

Sandy
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