Lauriston Sale Taylor's 100th Birthday

[Orion1111@AOL.COM]

Hi Folks:


       As many of you know, "Laurie" Taylor, the founder of the NCRP and its president for some 45+ years (and chairman for many years of the ICRP) will reach the age of 100 on June 1, 2002.  Those who would like to send him greetings on that occasion may write him at the following address:


                   Dr. Lauriston S. Taylor

                   10450 Lottsford Road

                   # C1-5

                   Mitchellville, Maryland 20721-2734


        During a videotaped interview I conducted of Laurie in April 1996, he related having received a number of local body exposures of many hundreds of R each and in addition an accidental whole body exposure of 150 +/- 50 R.  Could it be that Laurie Taylor is a living example of radiation hormesis in operation?? 


        He also expressed his concern that the NCRP and ICRP had pushed the linear extrapolation of radiation effects much below justifiable levels and NCRP critics (Yallow, Cameron, et al) were at least partly correct in their criticism that the NCRP/ICRP had contributed to public mis-information on the alleged hazards of low level radiation.  In a previous interview in 1994,  he also expressed his concern that both the NCRP & ICRP had gone too far in lowering  exposure guidelines which also encouraged governmental agencies (EPA - radon) to pushing their limits even lower  without adequate scientific justification. 


       Perhaps at 100 Years of age, Lauriston Taylor is still ahead of his time!


       HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY TO LAURIE TAYLOR!!


    Bob Gorson