Re: Radiation Hormesis

[Kai Kaletsch <eic@shaw.ca>]

John Jacobus wrote: " Of course, the real issue is should hormesis be taken

into account for regulatory limits."



Why is that the real issue? Why can scientists not simply say that the best

evidence suggests that hormesis is real and let the regulators worry about

whether to take hormesis into account or not?



For some reason we seem to have a hard time separating these two unrelated

issues when it comes to radiation, but not for anything else. We know that a

little bit of red wine is good for you, yet we pass laws setting a legal

drinking age and some jurisdictions pass prohibition.



Kai



----- Original Message ----- 

From: "John Jacobus" <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>

To: "Karl Ellison" <ellison1@localnet.com>;

<radsafe-digest@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:53 PM

Subject: Re: Radiation Hormesis





> Karl,

> As I promised here is some information I have been

> collecting.  Since you asked, I will give you my

> opinion.  I think there is a hormetic effect or

> response.  However, there are good examples and some

> that are really not convincing.  A lot of

> epidemiological studies have or may have confounding

> factors.  Some cancer patients have been shown to have

> increases of a specific immune protein following low

> dose irradiation, but it is not clear if this lead to

> the cancer reduction.  The Radiation, Science and

> Health Web has a collection of studies

> http://cnts.wpi.edu/RSH/Docs/index.html I have

> questioned some of the conclusion, but found that was

> a losing battle.

>

> Of course, the real issue is should hormesis be taken

> into account for regulatory limits.  I doubt that will

> happen.  Some of the reasoning can be found in the

> following citations.  Even Dr. Calbrese, one of the

> most frequently cited researchers, states "there is

> sufficient exaamples indicating that come

> strains/indiviuduals may lack the capacity to produce

> low-dose stiumlation response."  I have copy of the

> following articlea and can send them to you or others.

>

> "Hormesis and High-Risk Groups," Edward Calabrese and

> Linda Baldwin in Regulatory Toxicology and

> Pharmacology, 35, 414-428 (2002)

>

> "Hormesis:  Implications for Public Policy Regarding

> Toxins," Leter B. Lave, Annual Review of Public

> Health, 22:63-67 (2001)

>

> "Deconstructing Radiation Hormssis," Kenneth Mossman,

> Health Physics, 80, 263-269 (2001)

>

>

> --- Karl Ellison <ellison1@localnet.com> wrote:

> > I'm very curious of list member's opinions on

> > radiation Hormesis. Most RT(R)

> > professionals I talk to either roll their eyes and

> > dismiss it as 'just a

> > theory', or it's a new vocabulary word for them.

> >

> > Dr. Petr Beckmann of "Access To Energy"

> > (http://www.accesstoenergy.com/; a

> > pro-science / pro-technology newsletter he authored

> > until his death), gave

> > compelling evidence for the beneficial effects of

> > low-level radiation on

> > longevity and health.  There are numerous other

> > website references to studies

> > that also espouse positive bio-benefits.

> >

> > Does anyone have an opinion of this theory? What

> > role, if any does the theory

> > play in exposure mitigation - in policy making or

> > otherwise - none whatsoever

> > (I assume)?  What's the current thinking given the

> > scientific evidence gathered

> > to-date?

> >

>

>

>

> =====

> +++++++++++++++++++

> "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form

of tyranny over the mind of man."

> Thomas Jefferson

>

> -- John

> John Jacobus, MS

> Certified Health Physicist

> e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com

>

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