Practically workable? (formerly "ALARA What?")

[GlennACarlson@aol.com]

I can hear the slogans now:

"Death from radiation?  You can't PROVE we did it!"

"Radiation?  We're no worse than air pollution."

"Radiation - 10,000 dead.  Air pollution - 20,000 dead.  We win!"

"Radiation safety.  Strive not to be mediocre."

And, don't forget that red means a "bad radiation day,"  yellow means a 
"moderately bad radiation day";  and green means a "good radiation day."  On 
red days, we will limit our use of microwave ovens, reschedule appointments 
with the dentist to another day, and reduce power at nuclear plants by 20%.

Mr. Cohen's response reminds me of the Dilbert cartoon in which Dilbert's 
manager notes that his department had only two lost time accidents when their 
safety goal was for nine.  The manager announced that seven employees would 
be required to be injured in order to meet the goal.

Somehow, this is not what I had in mind by "practically workable."  

Are there any *serious* proposals?

Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
GlennACarlson@aol.com


In a message dated 3/31/2000 9:50:31 AM Central Standard Time, blc+@pitt.edu 
(Bernard L Cohen) writes:

<< By the standards we apply to radiation, the scientific bases
 for air pollution regulations are mediocre at best.
    But they work quite successfully. They prevent catastrophes and
 generally avoid identifiable deaths. 

[snip]

This confidence is not even
 shaken by studies concluding that tens of thousands of Americans die
 annually from air pollution. 

[snip]

    Our passion for doing much better for radiation than has been done
for air pollution by using LNT has backfired horribly, costing our Society
dearly. 

[snip]

    Thus, there is no honest scientific reason why radiation should be
 treated differently than air pollution in the low dose region  

[snip]  
  >>
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