Re: Optimal Radiation

["Jerry Cohen" <jjcohen@prodigy.net>]

It is interesting that you bring this up. On reviewing the literature on
hormesis, it appears that there is a lot of evidence indicating that
low-dose radiation stimulates resistance to various disease processes
including cancer. It has been hypothesized that  the "optimal" dose level
for humans would be ~10 rem/yr. When you go much above this level, harmful
radiation effects would likely predominate. Accordingly, background
radiation levels everywhere in the world ,including Kerala, could be
considered "suboptimal"
    In a  recent informal discussion regarding these phenomena, assuming
that at some future time hormesis becomes accepted, we conjectured on
methods that might be applied to administer "supplemental radiation" to the
unfortunate people who reside in radiation deficient areas. Among the
methods considered were: whole body x-ray, radon spas, uranium mines, and
drinking tritiated water. The latter was my favorite, but I wonder if anyone
might offer a better suggestion.                      jjcohen@prodigy.net


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Flood <bflood@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: Radiation Safety Travel Tips


>At 09:49 AM 1/25/2000 -0600, you wrote:
>>>Obviously, we are going about the
>>>business of radiation safety all wrong.  Rather than shielding people we
>>>could be opening spas.
>
>Can you imagine what will happen if hormesis can be proven? Mobs at the
>gates of our nuclear power plants demanding to be let in and given their
>exposure? How dare you deprive me of my rightful dose?
>
>===================================
>Bob Flood
>Dosimetry Group Leader
>Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
>(650) 926-3793
>bflood@slac.stanford.edu
>************************************************************************
>The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
>information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html