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Re: Chernobyl Health Study Findings
On Thu, 28 Mar 1996, DAVE GILMORE wrote:
> > Scientists: Chernobyl Not the Health Hazard Many Think
> > The scientists, presenting the results of a four-year study on the
> > consequences of the 1986 disaster, said the accident did not cause
> > an increase in leukemia or other diseases often blamed on it.
> > The study also refuted claims of widespread fatalities as a result of the
> > explosion. The Ukrainian Health Ministry has said that 125,000 people
> > had died in Ukraine alone, while the scientists at Friday's
> > conference maintain that only 45 deaths are attributable to the
> > accident.
> Well, I'm confused. I had been thinking about mentioning the article
> I saw in the newspaper the other day about all the cancer deaths
> related to Chernobyl. Funny how that "statement of fact" appeared in
> the newspaper, yet this little study didn't seem to get mentioned.
> I've seen a lot of postings about an "all-radiation-is deadly"
> bias in the media; maybe there is something to that. Comments?
> David F. Gilmore,
It's more even than that. The bias is pervasive, in almost all aspects
of society. I'll give an example:
I recently went to a lecture at the University of Alberta, given by a
geology professor, about the 'Deep Geologic Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel'.
It wasn't until about half-way through that I realized that the
professor's reservations on the process were based on misconceptions he
had about the significance of the potential doses to the future public.
He was fine with the geology, as he understood it very well, but the (IMO)
erroneous conclusion he came to, was due to his unconscious acceptance of
the hearsay type 'evidence' presented for the last twenty or so years in
society generally, on radiation hazards. I realized that not only do the
general population accept the horror stories that circulate about the
uniqueness of radioactivity as a hazard, but also all kinds of experts
_in_ _other_ _fields_ do the same thing. They then draw conclusions,
which are publicized and, of course, widely accepted - feeding the
misinformation cycle once again.
No wonder so many people are dead against nuclear power!
Chris Davey, RSO Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
(403)432-8616 fax -8615
email: cdavey@med.phys.ualberta.ca