Re: textbook correct?

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

>If it is so difficult, needs epidemiological investigations with thousands
>or millions of cases, millions of dollars every year for research and there
>is still no consent and no widely agreed proof for either opinion, then the
>effect cannot be significant. 
>
>Am I the only one who thinks like that?
>
>Franz
>Schoenhofer
>Habichergasse 31/7
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>e-mail:		schoenho@via.at
>
Dear Franz, 

Considering your statement "then the effect cannot be significant" it's
possible to conclude that the effect exist. The point of the discussion is
to quantify such effect.
Some RADSAFERS make the classic assumption considereing  ICRP 60: 
Risk factor for fatal cancer and severe hereditary disorders  = 6x10E-2 risk/Sv
cancer mortality due radiography per year = 6x10E-2 x[average exposition (in
Sv)]x (number of person exposed by radiography per year). It's quite
impressive this number.
Let's consider at this stage such impressive number, it's reallity
and the conception of Prof. Bo Lindell (Swedish Radiation Protection
Institute), one of greatest name of the radiation protection, about risk
evaluation and decision making:
Attention to Attitudes:
"Decision making is influenced by attitudes to risk. This is true both for
those who evaluate the risk, those who take the decisions  and those who are
expected to accept the decisions. Decisions are often made between
"objective" and "subjective" or "perceived" and there are numerous
discussions about "acceptable" risks. In the Prof. Bo Lindell concept all
these discussions are simplified if we relate acceptability not to risk but
to the practice or situation that causes the risk. To ask whether a risk is
acceptable is similar to asking: - Is this stone too heavy? - Such questions
cannot be answered out of context."
And finally:
a) No dose could be said to be absolutely safe, and the choice of a dose
limit implied a decision on acceptable risk rather than the identification
of safe doses
b) The existence  and magnitude of radiation risks at low doses can never be
proven and is only inferred from credible assumptions.

To BE or NOT To Be ... 

J. J. Rozental <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>
Consultant, Radiation Safety & Regulation
for developing country