RE: Mammography Doses

["Wesley M. Dunn" <WDUNN@brc1.tdh.texas.gov>]

I believe part of the "problem" here is that we have the radiation
professionals, the members of the public, and the medical community
looking at this from three very different perspectives.

Dr. Siegel points out several valid points.  However, I think the
reaction from the list readers results from the scientific urge to
know and the surprise that the people working around sources of
radiation aren't naturally aware of the radiation output.  We would
know the answer (or be able to readily determine/locate it) if we
worked around that particular source of radiation.  But we forget
that very few others share our interest in radiation facts "just to
know".

As such, the medical community may be reacting to the radio-phobia of
the general public, not understanding the HP is merely curious.

On the other hand, many radiation "professionals" may overreact as
they do not really have a good feel for medical radiation exposures
and might feel that a 600 mrem xray is very "hot", since they are
trained to react strongly to 5 and 100 mR/hr fields (in which case,
don't ask about the output for fluoro).


Wes