Re: The Invisible Passenger

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

Re Gary Schroeder's pamphlet describing the book on radiation risks, since I
have not seen the book and hence cannot speak to its content, my comments
are limited to the advertising hype.  Moreover, my comments should not be
construed as criticism of Dr. Barish, who I do not know personally, but
conclude he is a responsible and competent scientist based on his membership
in both the HPS and AAHP (he is a CHP) as well as AAPM who presumably had
nothing to do with the advertising copy. 

Now, down to business: The pamphlet contains a lot of hype; there have been
a number of studies by the FAA and others regarding doses to air line flight
crews,including specific mention in both Eisenbud's book (all editions) as
well as my own.  For years, the ANS has published a fill-in-the-blank form
to determine one's individual radiation exposure that included air travel.

A glaring example of the misleading hype, is the statement 

>Did you know ...
>
>Your radiation exposure doubles with every 6,500 ft. of altitude.

This may be approximately correct for cosmic radiation, but not generally
true as most of our exposure is from terrestrial sources, the exposure from
which decreases with altitude.  The exposure from internal sources (eg K-40,
H-3) does not change with altitude.

Suspect that my comments will engender some heated discussion, so I have
donned my flak vest .  .  .  Sure would like to see the book and compare its
content with the pamphlet.


Ron Kathren


 .  >Recently came across a pamphlet in the mail that will be of interest:
>
>"The Invisible Passenger: Radiation Risks for People Who Fly"
>
>Radiation exposure while flying is an issue most of us never think about.
>Until now, there was no information on this topic available to flight crew
>members, corporate flyers, or any other member of the general public - the
>people who most need to know.
>
>In 1992 the FAA acknowledged that pilots and flight attendants may receive
>more radiation annually than the average radiation worker - perhaps twice
>as much.  Airlines were directed to educate their new members about the
>radiation risk.  This is the first book to address this issue.
>
>Should you worry?
>
>Did you know ...
>
>Your radiation exposure doubles with every 6,500 ft. of altitude.
>
>Solar flares can increase your radiation exposure 10 to 20 times.
>
>Pilot cancer rates for four major cancers are high - in some cases much
>higher than average.
>
>Pregnant women should be particularly concerned about radiation levels on
>airplanes.
>
>Radiation levels in a jet liner are occassionally so high that in a nuclear
>power plant these levels would require signs warning employees not to spend
>any more time in the area than necessary to do their jobs.
>
>This book will tell all, clearly and unequivocably [sic].  It will answer
>your questions and explain why you should be aware of your radiation
>exposure while flying.
>
>Dr. Robert J. Barish is a medical physicist specializing in radiation for
>cancer treatment, and an ackowledged expert on the issue of in-flight
>radiation.
>
>Advanced Medical Publishing         cost: US$12.50 +$2.50 s&h 
>434 Blankenheim Lane
>P.O. Box 532
>Sun Prairie, WI 53590
>phone:	 1-800-825-9704
>fax:	 608-233-6634
>e-mail:	advmedpub@aol.com
>
>=======================
>Gary L. Schroeder
>Brookhaven National Laboratory
>Environmental Protection Office
>gs1@bnl.gov
>
>