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Re: Low Doses, Ethics and LNT
I agree with both Paul and David regarding common sense regulations.
Government, as well as scientific entities should jump in to protect
the public, as well as the worker (who is also a member of the
public) when there is a "substantial" accumulation of data and
reliable valid documentation that there is in fact a risk involved,
no matter what the subject is, be it radiation, chemicals, hazardous
materials or slip free carpets!
Having just flown over the jet that crashed in Miami last week, and
having had a few near misses myself in the past, it irks me to no end
when I read all the litany of information that the government (in
the entity of the FAA) has and fails to protect the public until
AFTER a disaster happens. Why is this so? Why is it that the
government jumps (where a pole vault record could be set) when the
issue has the term "radiation" in it? Is it that the government knows
a deep pocket book when they see one, and, they know that the public
will back them to the hilt, when they ask for funds to protect the
citizenry. Who will oppose them on the Hill? Nobody!
While there needs to be some regulations, they need to be modified
and reduced in volume to account for the real risk they are
protecting the public from. I suggest radiation regulations on the
back of a postcard (remember the proposed income tax bill
proposal)!!! Well, maybe a large postcard. Seriously though, the
current regulations are cumbersome, in some cases even those in the
know debate what the regulations actually say, and are more often
than not, interpreted .. many times incorrectly. The regulators
themselves are sometimes confused. If we, the experts are confused,
pity the poor public!! And, we are the media's nirvana!! We make
their day, we provide them with joy, and they love it when we have to
come and justify what we do. WHY????? We are NOT an unsafe industry.
That is not to say accidents don't and will not happen. The issue is
that when there is an accident, WHAT are the ramifications, if any,
and, what is the long term effect, if any. The answer is generally
... NO effect. What other industry can realistically say that? Not
many, I'd venture to say.
Time for a rational debate in this country. Those in power, who speak
with logic, sound knowledge regarding the risks we're discussing
here, and foresight as to what regulations there should be, and to
what extent they should cover,, these individuals and societies need
to speak up, voraciously!!!!!!!!
Time to get off our duffs ... NOW.
------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306
Fax: (714) 668-3149
mailto:sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
mailto:sperle@icnpharm.com
ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com (~ July 27)
Personal Homepage:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205
http://www.netcom.com/~sandyfl/home.html
"The object of opening the mind, as of opening
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
- G. K. Chesterton -