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Re: Linear Hypothesis IS the Cause of P

I agree that the LNT theory is the primary contributor to the public's fear of 
radiation, but want to add my thoughts on its basis.  I think that there's a 
consensus that the basis is NOT scientific; there's absolutely no proof of its 
validitiy.  However, it's not political either, as many seem to think.  The 
real basis is economic.  This theory was initiated in the boom days of 
scientific research - "atoms for peace;" remember that!  It was based on the 
assumption that virtually unlimited resources would be available, but it was 
necessary to have a reason to require extensive health physics staffing.  This 
provided justification.  As long as the money was there, it was great.  You 
can never do enough.  No matter how much doses were reduced, there was always 
more.  The problem was that people took it too seriously.  It not only 
justified higher health physics staffing; it also justified all of the 
radiation phobias. 
Bill Lipton 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
Heres to a risk free world, and other fantasies. 





Jim Muckerheide said:

>We need to leave the education of the public aside til we can educate
our managements and agencies, and the "scientists", and hp's who don't
have the necessary biology or history.< 

I agree with this statement to some degree, however, if we wait until 
the pre-requisities are attained, the youth of today will be dead and 
gone and we'll (not us obviously) be addressing the generations 
hundreds of years from now. It continues to amaze me that our 
"government officials" and Managers, those who have the least 
knowledge and expertise, are the very same individuals tasked with 
formulating regulations and policy. These individuals for the most 
part have never run a program, never conducted a survey, never processed
a dosimeter aand never performed a dose reconstruction, and obvioulsy 
have never performed any statistical calculations. They rely on 
theory .. and hell will freeze over before they acknowledge that 
sometimes theories need to be amended.

So, there are many obstacles to overcome, and most of them are the 
ones that the public most trusts. That is a dangerous and unfortunate 
situation.

Sandy Perle
Director, Technical Operations
ICN Dosimetry Services Division
Phone: (800) 548-5100 Ext. 2306
FAX: (714) 668-3149
Telex: 68-55-80
E-mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com

Homepages:
http://www.netcom.com/~sandyfl/home.html
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205