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RE: paranoid delusions
"If radiation were not so extremely hazardous, why would we need ALARA in
the first place."
Well, I would surmise that ALARA is accepted and enforced because nobody
knows for sure (contrary to your assertion otherwise) if and how hazardous
is radiation at the levels, not only below the occupational limits, but,
also, way above it. Confirmation of a definite radiation hazard in that
range, and even more below the occupational, that is, at the intended ALARA
levels, is mired in, and at best, patently indistinguishable from, the data
noise.
Furthermore, extrapolating the danger of radiation from a deterministic
(high doses) level, linearly, into the realm of stochastic events (very low
doses), that is, accepting as equally, scientifically, valid assumptions of
DIFFERENT QUALITY, for an assertion of a LINEARLY proportional risk, is
crying from the top of your lungs: "Hey, I do not know now, but I would like
to be sure until the time I know." Then in a whisper continue with: "Which,
of course, may not come any time soon, if ever."
That is, ALARA is a concept adopted for enforcement, for the pure LACK OF
KNOWLEDGE; maybe as, only, a soothing balm against a hysterical
anti-radiation crusade.
The blunderbuss statement: "If radiation were not so extremely hazardous
...", obviously, is infantile, since if that is, indeed, so, then he who
said it, certainly, would not be here, today, to say that.
Dusan Radosavljevic
Austin, TX
desegnac@swbell.net
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu]On Behalf Of Jerry Cohen
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 7:26 PM
To: Norman Cohen; Ted de Castro; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Re: paranoid delusions
I agree that the actions of regulators are neither paranoid, delusional,
nor irrational. It is certainly not irrational to take actions that advance
your self-interest. There is no down-side risk to the regulator for
overprotecting against anything that might be perceived as a hazard. Whether
that hazard has a real or scientifically valid basis is irrelevant. If
radiation were not so extremely hazardous, why would we need ALARA in the
first place.
The public has little, if any understanding of such matters. That's why
they assign the responsibility to regulatory experts. Never mind that they
might actually assigning the fox to guard the chicken coop. Governmental
regulators are at risk for their jobs only when they fail, or appear to
fail, to protect the public against actual or perceived dangers. The problem
will likely continue until such time as the first regulator is fired for
overzealous interpretation of the "rules".
----- Original Message -----
From: Norman Cohen <ncohen12@comcast.net>
To: Ted de Castro <tdc@XRAYTED.COM>; <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 3:56 PM
Subject: Re: radiation exposue at st lucie
> Hi Ted,
> "Paranoid delusions" was a bit strongly worded, don't you think?
>
> I do understand the thrust of this discussion. Too little oversight and
accidents
> happen. Too much oversight and, at least most
> of you feel, nit-picking results. Being the paranoid-delusional anti-nuker
that you say
> I am, for now, I would still lean in the direction of nits being picked.
>
> Norm
>
>
>
> Ted de Castro wrote:
>
> > For those that doubt what Jim M. and others have said many times over:
> > that the very fact that we investigate an occurrence is interpreted as
> > denying ANY claims that may be made as to its insignificant nature.
> >
> > See what Norm wrote below.
> >
> > While we are convinced that the more we investigate smaller and smaller
> > levels that we show our greater effort and greater safety - the antis
> > interpret this as further proof of how very very dangerous radiation
> > must be. Stricter and stricter rules are not interpreted as greater
> > control and safety - but as merely confirmation of their paranoid
> > delusions.
> >
> > Nothing I've seen yet confirms this better than Norm's own words below!
> >
> > Norman Cohen wrote:
> >
> > > My guess is that "Federal officials" would NOT be investigating if
this were just
> > > a trivial dose exposure.
> > >
> > > Norm
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