Observed biological effects vs regs

[BYRPV@ccmail.ceco.com]

     Radsafers,
     
     I recently subscribed to radsafe and caught the tail end of a thread 
     concerning stimulating effects of exposure to radiation.  Some of the 
     messages stated that research on populations of people exposed to 
     occupational and higher background exposures actually showed reduced 
     incidence of cancer.  One even mentioned that 5 rem per year may be 
     the optimum exposure range resulting in minimum cancer risk.  Even 
     though it is apparent that the current regulations based on the linear 
     non-threshold model need to be rewritten, the regulators seem to be 
     going the opposite direction from what research reveals.
     
     Can anyone fill me in on the results of some of the current research 
     and also discuss why (and how) the regulators (NRC, EPA) are ignoring 
     these results in favor of an outdated math model?
     
     Paul Vitalis
     Health Physicist
     Byron Nuclear Station
     
     Phone: (815) 234-5441 x2625
     Fax:   As above, x2735
     
     byrpv@ccmail.ceco.com