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Stewart -
I'm sure that the esteemed Senators "meant" industrial radiography
equipment (sometimes referred to as "industrial X-ray"), but I'm sure that
distinction will be lost on the public.
Otherwise, I agree wholeheartedly with your synopsis of the press release
... and I can hardly wait to read the language itself. I'll check the Thomas
website every day or so until it shows up.
Jim Hardeman
>>> Stewart Farber <farbersa@optonline.net> 10/17/2002 16:48:09 >>> A link is supplied below to a well-intentioned bipartisan bill just introduced in the US Senate by Sen. Biden, Clinton, Schumer, and others intended to: "Protect America Against Nuclear and Radiological Terror": http://foreign.senate.gov/press/02/021016.html Unfortunately, the press release by Sen. Biden on the bill's release contains some unfortunate and surprisingly inaccurate information making reference to concerns which include "radioactive sources worldwide -such as certain x-ray equipment......[that] are abandoned or stolen and leak out of the existing control system." The use of emotive [and in some ways unintentionally humorous] language by Sen. Biden such as sources [including x-ray equipment?] that "leak out" of present control systems only further confuses and in some ways terrorizes the public about this important issue and radiation technologies in general. To the layman the difference between Co-60 teletherapy units and an x-ray machine may be minor but lets not confuse matters even more! Referring to sources "leaking" out of "control systems" seems to imply that liquid sources are flowing down the gutter of American cities everyday into sewers and threatening water supplies. Powerful imagery, but not very accurate. The press release by Biden notes: "Testimony at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on dirty bombs in March revealed that a weapon using small amounts of radiological material could, if detonated, create serious economic or psychological damage in the United States." Unfortunately, the press release by Sen. Biden could be viewed as contributing to a self-fulfilling prophecy in that fears of even minute quantities of radioactive material dispersal will lead to actions such as deciding per the Press Release by Biden that: "Contaminated buildings within the area of detonation might have to be abandoned, destroyed, and trucked away as radioactive waste." The Press Release link cited above notes: “The threat of radiological terrorism, and even of true nuclear terror attacks, is real,” Biden said. “We know that most radiological attacks will kill few Americans, but we are just as certain that they will be economic crimes of the greatest consequence. We must do something to head off the nuclear and radiological terrorist threat where it will most likely first appear.” Worthwhile goal. But non-inflammatory rhetoric and avoiding emotive and even inaccurate information is vital if unwise actions are to be avoided in dealing with the threats -- real and perceived that we face as a nation regarding a "dirty bomb" radiological threat. Stewart Farber, MSPH email: farbersa@optonline.net ************************************************************************ You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/ |