Re: Radioactivity from burning coal

[Leo Bobek <bobek@WPI.EDU>]

Mr. Loesch provides some interesting radionuclide release data from the 
recent Science News (Oct. 1, Vol 146, No. 14) article on burning coal.

Unfortunately, such comparisons and discussions of relative risk are 
ineffective with the general public.  The former US Council for Energy 
Awareness (now Nuclear Energy Institute) published some nice public 
opinion research, "Communicating with the Public About Radiation".  What 
they found is that pointing out other sources of uncontrolled radiation
exposure only makes the public more uneasy.  Their first response would be 
to obtain greater regulation and control over these sources!

The only messages that appear to work well are the ones that state the 
benefits of radioactive materials.

I also agree with Jim Muckerheide's approach.  The radiophobia has gotten 
out of control and one of the root causes is the linear-no-threshold 
HYPOTHESIS (exclamation intended).  As Mr. Covey points out in his book "7 
Habits of Highly Effective People", we have to change the paradigm.  If 
we continue to preach and accept there is no safe level of radiation 
exposure then as Jim stated, the use radioactive materials will go the 
way of the railroad.


Just a few ravings and musings.