Re: Linear Hypothesis IS the Cause of P

["John Moulder" <jmoulder@post.its.mcw.edu>]

> > This misses the real question:  Why is radiation treated 
> > differently than other hazards?  Other hazards have "threshold 
> > limit values".  These are upper limits on "safe" levels, 
> > e. g. concentrations, of hazardous materials...
>  
> Exactly!  It is immoral, unethical and unscientific to treat radiation 
> in any way different from other hazards...

Unfortunately not true, at least in the US.
- Risk estimates for pesticides in food are based on LNT assumptions, and 
until the "Delaney amendment" was eliminated (very recently) pesticides in 
some foods were regulated on a "no amount that is detectable is safe" basis.
- Laboratory use of chemical carcinogens and genotoxins is regulated on a "no 
exposure is safe" basis.

This is not to imply that the applicability of LNT in the above is justified, 
only to point out that this thinking is not limited to ionizing radiation.


John Moulder (jmoulder@its.mcw.edu)