Re: letter to the editor

["jjcohen" <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET>]

MessageBill,

    You can inform  inquiring minds that:

1) the more they drink, the healthier they will become  up to the point they achieve "optimal dose" level (somewhere between ~10 and 100 rem/a equivalent). They probably can't drink that much radon water, but it might be worth a try. The optimal dose level would likely vary among individuals, but since current allowable dose limits would preclude reaching optimal dose, it's probably not important. 

2) Via ingestion or inhalation? Whatever way one reaches optimal dose level, they  will be better off, but  care should be taken to avoid exceeding optimal dose level where one might get into the harmful dose range. One can check with their friendly Health Physicist who will know all about these harmful radiation effects.

    I think that is about all that inquiring minds really need to know.     Jerry



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

  From: Kolb, William (WKOLB) 

  To: 'jjcohen' ; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu 

  Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 12:43 PM

  Subject: RE: letter to the editor





  Jerry,



  Theo Gray is quite aware of homesis and the swirling controversy. As soon as you are able to tell Revigator owners how many glasses a day they need to drink for maximum health benefit, we'd all like to know. One difficulty is discriminating between what "may" be beneficial from what "is" beneficial. Another question is whether radiation from drinking radon water is qualitatively different from breathing radon or relaxing in a radon spa.



  Inquiring minds want to know.



  bill

  WM Kolb

  ARINC Inc.



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

    From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu [mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu] On Behalf Of jjcohen

    Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 2:03 PM

    To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

    Subject: Fw: letter to the editor





    In response to a recently published article on Radon in Popular Science, the following letter to the editor was sent:





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

    From: jjcohen 

    To: letters@popsci.com 

    Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 3:59 PM

    Subject: letter to the editor





    Re: Theodore Gray, "For that Healthy Glow, Drink Radiation" pg. 28, August, 2004 issue          of  Popular Science



    Healthy Radiation



    It is apparently inconceivable to Gray that ingesting a radioactive substance might actually improve one's health. In fact, it could! The effects of radiation exposure are largely dependent upon the dosage received. Certainly at sufficiently high dose, radiation can be deadly. However, there is a growing body of evidence that at certain low, but above background levels of exposure, it can be beneficial in nature. Those who drink Radon Water, or visit Radium Spas may not be so crazy after all. As is the case with other "harmful" agents, radioactivity follows the long-standing guidance that "the dose makes the poison".



    Jerry Cohen