Re: Low Dose Research Program

[Muckerheide <muckerheide@MEDIAONE.NET>]

Title: Re: Low Dose Research Program

Hi Randy,


What brought this up? At this time? Do you have any info that any credible research is being done. It was certainly not in the original work scopes (though there will be a little in the way of "embarrassing results" for DOE to continue to ignore); they just fed the lab rats and none of the follow-on to the biology research of significance (and we know that they knew about the relevant data).  We advised Domenici that these funds (that we caused to get authorized) would just be wasted if given to the same empty pit that spent the last $2 Billion and covered up the results (and in fact is used to "buy" people who were, or would otherwise be potential critics).  Were there any better research proposals funded in the current round (I've meant to check, but...


We are also confidant that IF there are people who get credible results, they will not carry that forward, and the waves from results will not break break over the bows of the sips of the NCRP, ICRP, BEIR, EPA, DOE, NRC, UNSCEAR, etc., and they aren't likely to speak up later either (at least as long as the funding holds out) based on the experience of the last 30 years!


Of course it was no help when Domenici's pro-active staff person left and replaced as the lead on the issue by a LANL!! staffer -  And the word from people there was that LANL officials expressed their "concern" about the effect that losing the LNT would have on its major pet boondoggle projects, which are usually justified by "safer" or "cheaper" waste management! (Now, there's a laugh :-) And Domenici was at the front of the line in handing out the DOE anti-nuke fraud-generated US taxpayer payments to the "damaged" AEC/DOE radiation workers, while the labs and their minions who know better remained silent, and supportive, in this fraud.  Remember:   "All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing."


Regards, Jim

==========

> From: Randall_F_Brich@RL.GOV
>
> Reply-To: Randall_F_Brich@RL.GOV
>
> Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 08:39:48 -0700
>
> To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
>
> Subject: Low Dose Research Program


> The USDOE Low Dose Radiation Research Program website is:  http://lowdose.org. 
>
>  
>
> Excerpted from the FAQs:
>
>  
>
> What is the DOE Low Dose Radiation Research Program? 
>
> > The Department of Energy is funding the Low Dose Radiation Research Program to understand the biological responses of molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and organisms to low doses of radiation. The program will ensure that research results are communicated openly to scientists, decision makers, and the public. Results will be used in at least two ways: (1) evaluate models that predict human health risks from exposure to low doses of radiation and (2) help determine whether current radiation protection standards reflect the most recent scientific data. If not, then results may be used in developing revised standards.
> What is a low dose of radiation? 
>
> > Dose is the amount of energy deposited per unit of mass. A dose can be classified according to its health impact or in comparison to natural background radiation. Background radiation, over which we have no control, comes from such sources as cosmic rays, radon, radium, and other radioactive materials in the earth. Using the first criterion, a dose of radiation is considered low if its level is not known to cause adverse health effects. For the Low Dose Radiation Research Program, a low dose of acute low-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) radiation such as X rays, gamma rays, or beta particles is defined as being less than 10 rem or 0.1 Sv. This level of exposure (less than 10 rem) has been at or below the limit of detection for most biological changes observed in past research.
> Why was the Low Dose Radiation Research Program started at this time? 
>
> > Using traditional toxicological and epidemiological approaches, scientists have not been able to demonstrate an increase in disease incidence at levels of exposure close to the background. Over the past 10 years, however, there has been an explosion of new techniques and instrumentation to measure biological and genetic changes following low doses of radiation. These new tools allow studies to be done that were not possible in the past to help define radiation's effect on cells and molecules and provide scientific input for decisions about the adequacy of current radiation standards . . 
> >
> >
> >  How long will the Low Dose Radiation Research Program last and how large is the program? 
> >
> > > The research program is projected to last 10 years at a funding level of about $20 million dollars a year. As of FY 1999, 45 projects initiated by investigators and covering a wide range of research topics were funded. DOE anticipates funding new projects each year. Projects are selected only after undergoing rigorous peer review by independent scientists; once selected, the projects will be reviewed regularly by independent review groups. DOE anticipates that research in the Low Dose Radiation Research Program will produce data that will help improve our understanding of the health impact from exposure to low level radiation.
>  
>
>  
>
> Randy Brich 
>
> Tanks Focus Area 
>
> Program Integration Manager 
>
> VM: 509-372-4617 
>
> FX: 509-372-4549 
>
> randall_f_brich@rl.gov