Jaworowski article

[JMUCKERHEIDE@delphi.com]

The following article is highly recommended for anyone interested in the
actual health effects of radiation, and planning for the coming changes in rad 
protection and cleanup policies as the errors of the "linear model", and
immorality of the costs to society, of the current rules and programs are
rejected. 

I'll try to respond to questions. (Anyone interested in info/joining an
initiative on "Radiation, Science, and Health" is invited to contact me
directly.) 

Regards, Jim Muckerheide
jmuckerheide@delphi.com
-------------------------------------------

Zbigniew Jaworowski, 1995b, "Stimulating Effects of Ionizing
Radiation: New Issue for Regulatory Policy", Regulatory
Toxicology and Pharmacology, 22, 172-179

Dr. Jaworowski is the former Chairman of UNSCEAR

Dr. Jaworowski notes that US EPA proposes to reduce radiation
protection standards to 1 mSv/yr (70 mSv lifetime), about 3% of
natural in some parts of the world; that they refer to and misuse
4 UNSCEAR reports, and ignore UNSCEAR 94, proposing to bring
enormous costs to society which would be ethical only for a large
reduction in identificable health hazards. 

He reports that EPAs statement that risks "of cancer have
increased roughly threefold and have become more certain" are not
supported by UNSCEAR 1993 and 1994, including recognition of
stimulating and adaptive effects that, "during the last 4
decades...have been ignored in radiation protection philosophy
and practice."

This article refers to his paper: Jaworowski, 1995a, Nukleonika,
Int. J. Nucl. Res., 41(1)

He notes that the ICRP 1959 "linear hypothesis" was recognized
and used as a simplifying assumption for evaluations for moderate
to high doses, primarily from high doses to 6000 mSv (acute doses
100s and 1000s of times natural radiation), used originally for
moderate to high occupational exposure standards. The known
deficiencies were ignored in administrative application of the
"linear model" to lower doses and chronic exposures to below
natural background, in the face of contrary evidence, has led to
large costs for no public benefits. 

He confirms the validity of Walinder (1987) on the problem of
extending the limits of knowledge, the concept that that a math
model "can be limitlessly extrapolated", and that the stochastic
nature of the "model" can not be applied to an open system, such
as a human being or a population, to the range of the natural
dose, unless the man-made dose effect is shown to be much
stronger than the natural dose (clearly ludicrous). 

He states that "the absurd practical consequences were exposed by
the Chernobyl accident". He refers positively to many of the most
notable scientists and analysts, including Prof Mayneord of the
UK (ICRP and UNSCEAR), Dr. Lauriston Taylor (Pres. NCRP), Prof
Kondo, Dr. Brucer, Dr. Alexander, and others, who have found the
regulatory application "nonsense", "erroneous", "irresponsble" and
"immoral", and even that the costs imposed on society by applying
the "linear model" in NRC regulations at $2 billion/life saved is
"morally questionable" (which is orders of magnitude greater, or
infinite, when the actual data is applied to the cost/benefit). 

Dr. Jaworowski reviews numerous studies that unamiguously refute
the linear model, from the Japanese survivors, medical,
occupational, and natural exposures, including radon, that
demonstrate stimulatory effects, including confirmatory
biological evidence of stimulation and repair. He also compares
natural radioactivity in the environment and in the human body to
levels applied costly, unjustified, regulatory standands.

J. Muckerheide