Re: Ron Kathrens comment on indoor radon concentrations

[John Goldsmith <gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il>]

Thank you Ron.  Some of us are relatively non-vocal, but you speak well 
for us.     John Goldsmith, Professor, gjohn@BGUMAIL.BGU.AC.IL

On Tue, 28 Jan 1997 radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu wrote:

> In response to the recent comments posted on Radsafe by Jim Muckerheide:
> 
> I am sorry, Jim, that you still do not get the scientific point, so I will
> try again:  The folks in Bernie's study did not remain in their homes 24
> hours a day, never venturing outside!  And, of course, the measurements
> themselves that he cites are really not precise and accurate indications of
> indoor radon levels. Evaluation of the radon levels could just as easily
> support Bernie's findings as not; remember, we must keep an open mind and
> NOT prejudge. 
> 
> But even more so, I am distressed that that you do not get the other and
> perhaps more important point,and continue to choose to vituperate those with
> whom you disagree. (Could this be a case of argument weak, yell like h---?)
> In particular, as the Chairman of the NCRP Comittee that prepared NCRP
> Report 121, I take strong exception to your comments and allegations that
> the report "promulgates disinformation that isn't science".  I believe that
> my Committee represented a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoint and
> considerable expertise, and prepared a report that is scientifically sound
> and represents a distillation of the various scientific opinions of the
> Committee members that included consideration of the comments received from
> the Council.  This is as it should be.  And,although I am not now nor have I
> ever been a member of NCRP, I nonetheless find your ad hominem comments
> regarding NCRP personally insulting, degrading, unprofessional and totally
> inappropriate, whether on Radsafe or elsewhere.  Perhaps in addition to
> defending his research , you would do well to emulate the gentlemanly
> behavior and scientific integrity characteristic of Professor Cohen. Ad
> hominem attacks have no place in science, and cast a decided chill on
> freedom of expression.
> 
> Ron Kathren
> rkathren@tricity.WSU.edu
> 
> >Schoenhofer wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
>