AW: RE: AW: [ RadSafe ] DNA Damage and Oxydative Processes

[jjcohen at prodigy.net]

Rainer,
    Again, you have presented an excellent and insightful review on how we
have degenerated into the current state of affairs. From my early training
until now, I have adhered to the logical reflective views of Paracelsus.
Interesting to note that up through the first half of the 20th century, the
Paracelsus philosophy "dosis facit venenum" (The Dose Makes the Poison)
was a prevailing paradigm in the practice on medicine and public health.
Things changed during the 1950's & 60's and, for reasons not entirely clear,
the Paracelsus philosophy was abandoned and seemingly displaced by
the LNT type of nonsense where for exposure to hazardous materials
"any is too much".
    Radiation was the first casualty in this process probably because of the
 undue influence of Muller's fruitfly experiments where anything <1.0 Sv.
was
considered to be low-dose radiation. Soon, the LNT idiocy spread to chemical
substances (DDT, PCBs, dioxin, asbestos, carcinogens, etc. etc.).
Several laws (CERCLA, TOSCA, etc),were enacted in the USA & elsewhere
legitimizing the idea that "any is too much".
Now, it seems unlikely that we can ever return to rationality.
Paracelsus--- where are you now that we really need you?
Jerry Cohen


----- Original Message -----
From: <Rainer.Facius at dlr.de>
To: <crispy_bird at yahoo.com>; <jimm at wpi.edu>; <jjcohen at prodigy.net>;
<goldinem at songs.sce.com>; <radsafe at radlab.nl>
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 2:35 AM
Subject: AW: AW: RE: AW: [ RadSafe ] DNA Damage and Oxydative Processes


> John:
>
> The LNT concept for radiation protection is with us nearly twice as long,
for more than 50 rather than 30 years.
>
> The vast majority of data obtained until 50 years ago on human health
effects from low dose, low dose rate exposures favoured the idea that dose
thresholds exist below which no detrimental effects could be observed and
hence - in the realm of scientific knowledge - did exist. This was in line
with the most fundamental concept of toxicology/pharmacology coined nearly
500 years ago by Theophrastus Phillippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim,
AKA Paracelsus, as "dosis facit venenum", i.e., "the dose determines
venomousness". As an aside, instead of dedicating your time to discussions
on topics where you yourself claim insufficient expertise for developing
independent own conclusions, you might wish to allocate some time on
pondering why on earth one specific natural toxin, which like myriads of
other ones has been acting upon the biosphere since its origin, namely
ionizing radiation, should be exempt from this otherwise predominant rule.