[ RadSafe ] Concerning Rizzini's claim of one ug U-238

[KARAM, PHILIP]

Technically correct- but we have to then ask what the odds are. There's also a finite chance that somebody will be killed by a meteorite, but there aren't very many meteor-related deaths on record.

When you get to a vanishingly small risk - one that's too small to "see" and that can only be calculated - then you have to wonder if we're engaged in science (making predictions that can be tested and falsified if incorrect) or philosophy.

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: Monday, October 28, 2013 3:37 PM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Concerning Rizzini's claim of one ug U-238


OOPS!

My previous post should read "BEIR committee", not "NRCP".


If, as according to the NCRP  BEIR committee, a single alpha particle is
sufficient to initiate cancer, then certainly one microgram of U238 could
do the trick.

Clayton J. Bradt
Principal Radiophysicist
NYS Dept. of Health
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