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RE: Radiophobia wins again
Both Mr. Lipton (by the way...your company makes awesome iced tea) and Mr. Dapra have a measure of reason in their statements. My proverbial two cents would be that regardless of the amount of scientific data we as scientists can produce it still rests with those who would interpret said data for the public as to what the perception will be. If I said the general area dose rate for a specific storage area was .2 millirem/hr it sounds perfectly harmless to the average person. But report that same information in micro rem and, to the layperson, it would sound like death on a stick to any who dared go near.
As nuclear professionals, we all know the numbers and what they mean. We make decisions based on our ability to interpret said numbers. Unfortunately, we have no control over the manner in which it is disseminated to the public.
Floyd W. Flanigan B.S.Nuc. H.P.
-----Original Message-----
From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM]
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 8:04 AM
To: Steven Dapra
Cc: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Re: Radiophobia wins again
Like it or not, whether something is "safe" is a matter of opinion. I thought it was
safe to limit my speed to 45 mph in Friday's MI weather. There were a lot of drivers
out there who must have thought it's "safe" to drive a lot faster.
Sciencists can quantify the risks - if you accept their sometimes questionable
assumptions. What risks to take are a matter of individual decision.
If someone thinks bungee jumping is safer than living near a nuclear power plant,
that's his decision. You make think he's wrong, but it's still his decision. His
perception is the political reality.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
Steven Dapra wrote:
> ...
>
> As usual, Bill has managed to twist everything around. Whether or not
> nuclear materials -- waste, medical isotopes, fuel rods, etc. -- are safe
> is a scientific matter, NOT a political view. It's been made into a
> political hot potato, but it shouldn't be. (And don't give me any of that
> hokum about 'perception is reality.')
> ...
> Steven Dapra
> sjd@swcp.com
>
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