Hormesis and DNA continued

[goldinem@songs.sce.com]

Regarding Jim Muckerheide's comments about DNA damage and hormesis.  To
quote:
"But radiation makes a minuscule contribution.  There's no unique
contribution from a damage from radiation."
These comments don't address multiply damaged sites (MDS) for which
ionizing radiation is believed to be distinct from those lesions caused by
oxidative metabolism.  Dr. John Ward at UCSD has published many papers
studying MDS's and the fact that radiation-induced DNA lesions are not the
same as simple metabolic DNA lesions.  Moreover, if, as you claim, the
effects on DNA are no different from metabolic oxidative effects such that
low dose radiation (LDR) effects are simply buried in the ocean of normal
metabolic processes, then how can you explain that there could be any
beneficial effect from LDR?  How can you induce immunological responses if
the radiation is indistinct from metabolism.  You can't have your cake
and....   Don't disposition the basic research so lightly because
epidemiological studies aren't going to answer the basic biology questions.
There just isn't the sensitivity and there are too many confounding
factors.

What we need is more basic radiation biology research and less political
maneuvering.  As Bjorn clearly put it, the answers aren't in yet.  And
those researchers who continue to seek answers aren't part of some grand
conspiracy to cover up beneficial effects (notwithstanding the X-files).
Note that basic research is conducted primarily by university staff/faculty
and is not influenced by NCRP/ICRP/BEIR, etc.  Lastly, please remember LNT
isn't (or shouldn't be anyway) used for risk assessment but for development
of standards that ensure that risks are acceptably low (if not yet proven
zero).  So the problem in the US isn't that there is a cover-up of
radiation's beneficial effects, but that the decisionmakers won't stand up
to a very small vocal group who seek a "risk-free" environment, whatever
that might be.

Obviously, only my opinion.
Eric Goldin, CHP
<goldinem@songs.sce.com>

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