Re: from ray shadis re: lochbaum and radiation

["ruth_weiner" <ruth_weiner@email.msn.com>]

The units rem and sievert are "biologically-based" if you will.  The
definitions I have read and used are that 1 rem is the amount of biological
damage done when 1 rad (100 ergs/gm) of x-ray or gamma radiation is absorbed
by biological tissue, and one sievert is the amount of biological damage
done by when 1 gray (1 joule/kg) of x-ray or gamma is absorbed.  As is
evident, these units provide a relationship between biological effect and
physical, objectively measurable units.  We do not, after all report human
weight in "obesity units" but in kilograms or pounds (or stone, if you are
English), nor do we measure liquids in "thirst-quenching units" but in
liters or pints or quarts --- physical, measurable, and reproducible units.

No I don't buy it.  I think the present system, whether historical (rem) or
SI (Sv) is rational, clear, and clever.  And in the cutesy tradition that
Mr. Shadis apparently favors, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Always do right.  It will please some and astonish the rest. -- Mark Twain

Ruth Weiner
ruth_weiner@msn.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Norman & Karen Cohen <norco@bellatlantic.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 7:13 PM
Subject: from ray shadis re: lochbaum and radiation


>Hi all,
>
>Thanks for all the answers to my last query on the "rad is rad" question.
I'll get
>back to everyone.
>
>I wanted to share this message from Ray Shadis (he said ok).
>
>Apologies from Ray for the humorous tone of his letter, replying to Dave
Lochbaum on
>our UNPLUG Salem list, where I've posted some of the "rad is rad"
discussion.
>
>Interesting to me is his request for a dialogue on radiobiology. I think
that some
>of what he says
>in here is where my thinking is at too, looking at more biology based
models.
>
>peace
>norm




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