Re: Elephants vs mice

[JMUCKERHEIDE@delphi.com]

>      As has been said, WHY ask WHY??
>      With the current advisory and regulatory bodies having a deeply entrenched 
>      miasma concerning LNT, this can continue to eternity.

Because someone must take some responsibility for correcting falsehood. And
Dr. Cohen can't do it alone. Each of us can be part of the solution, or part
of the problem. 

>      My opinions only

I wish.

>      chris_a_marthaller@rl.gov
>      Health Physics Instructor
 
Regards, Jim Muckerheide
jmuckerheide@delphi.com
 
> _________________________ Reply Separator ____________________________
> Subject: Elephants vs mice
> Author:  Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu> at -MailLink
> Date:    6/19/97 11:07 AM
> 
> 
>         The basis for linear-no threshold theory is that a single gamma
> ray striking a single DNA molecule in the nucleus of a single cell can 
> cause a cancer. Since an elephant or other large animal has many 
> thousands of times more such DNA molecules than a mouse, what 
> explanations have been offered for why elephants don't get a lot more 
> cancers than mice from radiation exposure? Why aren't human adults more 
> sensitive than small children? Why is radiation dose defined as energy 
> deposited per unit organ mass, rather than just total energy deposited 
> which determines the number of such hits?
>      
> Bernard L. Cohen
> Physics Dept.
> University of Pittsburgh
> Pittsburgh, PA 15260
> Tel: (412)624-9245
> Fax: (412)624-9163
> e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu