|
Bill writes:
>Nevertheless, I'll stand by my conclusion, until shown otherwise, that
this indicates a serious programmatic failure.
The ingestion ALI for Cs-137 is 4 MBq (yes, MEGABq), this is 110
uCi. - intake of 4 MBq (110 uCi) will give an effective dose of 50 mSv (5 rem)
so 21 pCi/g x 64 lbs x 454 g/lb = 610,000 pCi = 0.61 uCi x 5 rem/110 uCi =
0.028 rem = 28 mrem committed dose if someone were to actually choke
down 64 lbs of this deer meat with no one else sharing. The same person's
dose from background radiation is perhaps 250-400 mrem/year. It seems to me that
the "serious programmatic failure" is with God or Mother Nature, or whoever you
want to attribute the background radiation to. How could they permit this highly
dangerous and clearly unacceptable dose (10 to 15 times higher) year in and year
out?
Your microwave oven probably leaks a little microwave radiation. Not as
much as the early models, certainly, but it's not zero. Is there any conceivable
harm that can come from this small amount of leakage? If not, then was the
manufacturer guilty of a "serious programmatic failure" by allowing it? Ozone
can kill in high enough concentrations, but is the tiny amount of ozone that
might be created from time to time by arcing in electrical wiring of your copy
machine a "serious programmatic failure" on the part of the manufacturer?
I just don't see it. Elaborate hand wringing over doses that are essentially in
the uncertainty associated with natural background may lead the public to think
there's a danger here, but I for one see none. I would happily take
ownership of this deer meat, if someone could recommend a good red wine to go
with it.
Mike
Think I'll go risk my life and make some
photocopies....life on the edge in the big city.
Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Vanderbilt University 1161 21st Avenue South Nashville, TN 37232-2675 Phone (615) 343-0068 Fax (615) 322-3764 e-mail michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu |