Re: Salem et al -MA, NJ, Witch Hunts -"Here there everywhere"

[RadiumProj@cs.com]

In the 1970s, I recall reading a prescient review about the growing hysteria 
among many "environmental"  groups against all things nuclear. The article 
was titled: "Not since the burning of witches" by an author I can't recall 
--published, I don't remember where. While it mainly focused on the 
opposition to nuclear power based on exaggerated claims of radiation risk and 
harm, I believe it also delved into to fears being promoted against all other 
uses of nuclear science and technology. 

I recall for example, that in the early 1970s, Ralph Nader came out strongly 
against the use of ionization type smoke detectors claiming they were an 
unacceptable radiation hazard due to the Am-241 commonly used.  He made an 
absolute claim that the [trivial]  low energy x-ray doses with Am-241 in 
smoke detectors, made ionization smoke detectors an  unsafe hazard. His 
position was basically that radiation exposure was in effect "Unsafe at any 
dose" even if there was a clear benefit from the application in question.

Thankfully the Fire Chiefs of American and every safety group involved in 
preventing loss of life in fires among the general public rejected these 
kinds of scare tactics involving battery powered ionization Am-241 containing 
smoke detectors,  resulting in the prevention of  countless thousands of 
deaths due to smoke inhalation in the last 25 years that low-cost ionization 
smoke detectors have become commonplace --and required to be installed in 
every apartment and home as part of a closing. Score: Consumers: 1; Ralph 
Nader [et.al.]: 0.

Stewart Farber, MS Public Health
Public Health Sciences
Warren, VT 05674
email: radiumproj@cs.com
[802] 496-356
==================
In a message dated 8/15/00 1:51:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
gwilton@chem.swri.edu writes:
>  
>  How ironic that Salem, once the location of a witch hunt, is now the 
> object
>  of one!!!
>  
>  
>  Grant Wilton
>  Senior Research Scientist
>  Southwest Research Institute
>  gwilton@chem.swri.edu
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