Radiation - net benefit or detriment?

[goldinem@songs.sce.com]

Earlier today, Jerry Cohen wrote:

"Why is it so difficult for people to believe the a radiation exposure can
simultaneously produce both harmful and beneficial effects?  The net sum of
these effects can, depending on dose level and individual susepibility, be
either good or bad."

In fact, anyone who has looked at a few years of basic radiation biology
research should recognize that ionizing radiation does cause potentially
harmful DNA damage, initiate beneficial cellular responses, and even
initiate cellular responses in nearby cells.  As Jerry noted, the balance
between the competing effects may result in a detriment or a benefit.  I'm
not an epidemiologist, but I don't believe any epi study is going to
definitively determine whether there is a net detriment or benefit at low
doses (whatever "low" means).  As radiation protection scientists, we have
to ensure that, in light of the weak carcinogenicity of ionizing radiation,
the risk of detriment is acceptably small (the public may not buy that
today) and that other benefits of the use of the material remain available.
Lastly, I am tired of being accused of being part of some grand conspiracy
to prevent radiation's beneficial effects from recognition.  Having
conducted about nine years of basic radiation biology research myself and
continuing to stay current in both basic science and the practical
application in radiation safety work over the past twenty years, I know of
no pressure to provide results demanded by funding agencies or secret
government missions (Dana Scully, where are you?)  My experience, having
personally met some of the researchers on NCRP and NAS-BEIR committees
convinces me that they are the cream, and are about as objective a group of
people as you'll ever find.

Obviously, my opinion only...   Y'all have a good weekend, heah?
Eric M. Goldin, CHP
<goldinem@songs.sce.com>

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