Re: natural dose question

[John Cameron <jrcamero@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

Tom: You wrote that the commentator stated " that the total dose of 

radiation (all types) that a person receives everyday is 500,000". 

This was not referenced - does

anyone know where this number came from?

	It is possible that someone confused "dose" with 

disintegration from the natural radioactivity in the body per minute. 

The natural radioactivity of a 70 kg person is about 9 kBq which is 

about 540,000/minute.  Of course the number of cells hit by this 

radiation each minute is much larger. Billions of your cells are 

struck each day. When you add in the external radiation essentially 

every one of the trillions of cells in your body is struck each year 

by natural radiation. Yet cancer is a disease of the aged.

Best wishes, John Cameron

PS My letter to the editor of the Br. J. of Radiology pointing out 

the significant health benefits in reducing deaths from non-cancer of 

British radiologists is scheduled to appear in the July issue. If you 

want a copy sooner, send me a request by e-mail to: jrcamero@wisc.edu

-- 

John R. Cameron (jrcamero@facstaff.wisc.edu)

2678 SW 14th Dr. Gainesville, FL 32608

(352) 371-9865 Fax (352) 371-9866

(winters until  about May  15)



PO Box 405, Lone Rock,WI 53556

(for UPS, etc. E2571 Porter Rd.)

(608) 583-2160; Fax (608) 583-2269

(summer: May 20, 2002- September 11,  2002)

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