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Re: [Fwd: [graffis-l] Plutonium cancer risk may be higher than thought]
Now how is the danger from plutonium so much more dangerous than the myriad
other low level sources of radiation that we're exposed to, at levels that
dwarf the exposure from plutonium? How do they account for that? Or am I
missing the point? (I'm not, these are rhetorical questions)
(Obviously) my own personal opinion.
Brian Rees
At 03:46 PM 7/18/2004, you wrote:
>I had thought that plutonium was considered to be the most hazardous
>substance known to man. Now we find it is even much more dangerous than
>that. Considering that over ten tons of Pu was released to the
>environment during atmospheric nuclear explosives testing and everyone
>has been exposed to it, I guess we are all doomed! Too bad--- I was hoping
>to live forever.
>
>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: [graffis-l] Plutonium cancer risk may be higher than thought
>Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 08:03:34 -0400
>From: Mark Graffis <mailto:mgraffis@vitelcom.net>><mgraffis@vitelcom.net>
>Reply-To: <mailto:graffis-l@yahoogroups.com>graffis-l@yahoogroups.com
>To: x3 <mailto:graffis-l@yahoogroups.com>><graffis-l@yahoogroups.com>
>
>
>
>New Scientist
>
>09:30 18 July 04
>
><http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996152>http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996152
>
>Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.
>
>
>Plutonium may be many times more dangerous than previously thought. The
>
>cancer risk from exposure inside the body could be 10 times higher than is
>
>allowed for in calculating international safety limits.
>
>The danger is highlighted in a report written by radiation experts for the
>
>UK government, which has been leaked to New Scientist. The experts are
>
>unanimous in saying that low-level radiation emitted by plutonium may cause
>
>more damage to human cells than previously believed. Their opinion could
>
>provoke a rethink of the guidelines on exposure to radiation.
>
>Several tonnes of plutonium have been released into the environment over the
>
>last 60 years by nuclear weapons tests and nuclear plants.
>
>Concern over the harmfulness of plutonium is growing because of discoveries
>
>about the subtle effects of low-level radiation. Researchers in Europe and
>
>North America have shown that the descendants of cells that seem to survive
>
>radiation unharmed can suffer delayed damage, a phenomenon called "genomic
>
>instability" (New Scientist print edition, 20 January 2001).
>
>
>Bystander effect
>
>
>Cells adjacent to those that are irradiated can also sustain damage, known
>
>as "the bystander effect". And an increase was found in the number of
>
>mutations in small pieces of DNA called mini-satellites that are passed from
>
>one generation to the next. The fear is that these effects could trigger
>
>cancers and other ill effects.
>
>The report, which is due to be published in the next few months, has been
>
>drawn up by the Committee Examining Radiation Risks from Internal Emitters
>
>(CERRIE). The committee includes 12 specialists from the UK government's
>
>National Radiological Protection Board, the nuclear industry, universities
>
>and environmental groups.
>
>All members of the committee agree that the margin of uncertainty over the
>
>risks of plutonium and similar radionuclides inside the body "could extend
>
>over at least an order of magnitude".
>
>This "should be borne in mind by those making judgements and policy
>
>decisions on low-level internal radiation", says CERRIE's chairman, Dudley
>
>Goodhead, the former director of the UK Medical Research Council's Radiation
>
>and Genome Stability Unit at Harwell in Oxfordshire.
>
>
>Rob Edwards
>
>
>
>
>
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