Re: Invisible Passenger

[hwade@triax.com (H. Wade Patterson)]

Radsafe group:
If you'd like to know what an airline captain thought of the book here's
the review from the Sept. HPS Newsletter.

Please notice my new email address (see below).
-- 
Wade

mailto:hwade@triax.com

H.Wade Patterson
1116 Linda Lane
Lakeview OR 97630
ph 541 947-4974

The Invisible Passenger:
Radiation Risks for People Who Fly
by Robert J. Barish, Ph. D.
ISBN 1-883526-06 x
Advanced Medical Publishing
Madison WI 53705
1996 
11 chapters, two appendices, glossary and index

In plain language, Dr. Barish explains the facts about the risks of
in-flight radiation exposure. The author helps the reader weigh these
risks in the perspective of other risks that are common in everyday
life.
The first three chapters provide a brief history of the subject and
provide simple definitions for the scientific terms used in describing
radiation and its effects. Dr. Barish also discusses the status of FAA
proposals and advisories on the subject, thus giving the reader a needed
basic understanding of the topic.
The next two chapters explain both federal and international standards
for radiation exposure. In addition, the risk model used for deriving
these standards is examined.
Chapters 6 and 7 discuss the data presented by the FAA on estimated dose
rates/doses for representative city-pair flights, and data on estimated
risks associated with these dosages.
Dr. Barish then explains how these dosages can vary with altitude,
latitude, and in the presence of solar flare activity.
The final three chapters explain how radiation can be measured and
dosages estimated; what the science is behind shipping of radioactive
materials and of irradiated food, and a discussion of the recent study
of 2740 Air Canada pilots and their cancer rates.
This book hits the bulls eye in answering many questions the aviation
community might have and explains why awareness of radiation exposure
while flying is something all of the aviation community should have.

Bruce A. Patterson
Captain, Horizon Airlines