Fear, etc.

[Keith Welch <welch@jlab.org>]

I suppose that it's fairly clear then, that we have but one choice, if
we are to live up to our social, ethical and moral responsibilities:

Stop all activities that produce radiation immediately.  If we do so, we
can prevent ALL the health effects triggered by false fears of
radiation.

> Dan, I think you have hit on something significant here.  If, as you say, (and I
> have had similar experience) real health effects can be triggered by false fears,
> and since the Atomic Energy Act as amended gives the responsibility to the NRC to
> protect Americans from radiation, shouldn't the NRC ( and DOE and EPA) be doing all
> it (they) can to erase false fears of radiation that create real health effects?  If
> Congress really wants the federal agencies to protect health and safety, shouldn't
> Congress be insisting that the agencies pass regulations that do not result in real
> harm from false fears?  Perhaps someone should sue the agencies for not doing their
> job in this respect?  How about including IAEA, ICRP, NCRP and BEIR VI?  What do
> y'all think?  Al Tschaeche antatnsu@pacbell.net
> 
> "Strom, Daniel J" wrote:
> 
> > "Unnecessary" measurements? In the larger public health picture, taking into
> > account the fact that real health effects can be triggered by false fears,
> > anything that can be legitimately and honestly done at reasonable cost to build
> > or restore peace of mind is, in my opinion, a valid part of the profession of
> > health physics.
> 

-- 
Keith Welch
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
Newport News VA
welch@jlab.org
Ph: (757)269-7212
FAX:(757)269-5048
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