Re: Industry Event

[a.zapantis@qut.edu.au (Alex Zapantis)]

>Al --
>
>I wish I had your faith and the ability to make the abosolute statement
>that there was NO health effect.  But I do not.  And, just because there
>is no apparent adverse effect does not condone the situation or support
>unnecessary exposure.  All well and good that there was no apparent ill
>effect (thus far) in this instance.

It seems that we will probably never be able to determine with any measure
of certainty the effects of low dose/dose rate radiation using
epidemiological studies. Perhaps researchers should move away from
epidemiology and place more emphasis on radiation biology in an attempt to
resolve this problem. Do we really have a clear understanding of the
processes involved in radiocarcinogenesis? Do our current models take into
account environmental factors and exposures to other agents which may have a
synergistic or antagonistic effect. Do we know why there is a latency period
between exposure and the onset of cancer? I think not (OPINION).

It is interesting to compare the rationale used in setting limits for other
deleterious agents with the rationale used in radiation protection. eg the
limit for asbestos exposure was set, basicly, at the limit of detection of
asbestos fibres in air (at the time) - the limit for noise (Leq,8 = 85dB(A))
is based on the level of noise to which nearly all of the population may be
exposed without any hearing damage, however it is "known" that a percentage
(about 5% I think) WILL suffer hearing damage at this level. The limits for
chemical exposure are mostly based from observed effects with a safety
margin and set a threshold.

Food for thought...
 
  Alex Zapantis                                         
  Radiation Safety Officer                                     
  Queensland University of Technology 
  Acting Manager       
  Health & Safety Section                             
  Locked Bag No.2                    Ph     : 61 7 3864 3566
  Red Hill Qld 4059                    fax     : 61 7 3864 3993
  AUSTRALIA                           Email  : a.zapantis@qut.edu.au    

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       "If I could remember the names of all those particles
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                                                            Enrico Fermi

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