Re: Radio-Phobia

["Theodore S Bohn"<BST@inel.gov>]

PLUTONIUM - Ever since plutonium was branded, "The most toxic substance on
earth," the fear of millions (especially the radio-phobic) is triggered at
even the mention of plutonium for any technical application.  I understand
that there are many substances that are much more toxic than plutonium.
Has there ever been a non-technical, user friendly explanation to the
public by a creditable nuclear professional putting the harmful properties
of plutonium into perspective with the other harmful substances on earth
that the public usually don't fear? Silence on this subject by nuclear
professionals (us) will only continue to reinforce this label as being
true!  I would like to see a treatise of this sort be the subject of a
20-20 or 60 Minutes program to reduce this fear if the public would believe
it.

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jreese@smtpgate.ddrw.dla.mil on 10/01/97 08:55:37 AM

Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu


To:   radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
cc:    (bcc: Theodore S Bohn/BST/LMITCO/INEEL/US)
Subject:  Re: Radio-Phobia





     I'm suprised this is the first time you have run into such a
     situation.  When I worked for reactors, this type of question was
     common from those who lived "near" the plant.  I remember one lady who
     routinely arrived at our Board of Director meetings and complained
     that the spent fuel pool was really a place of us to experiment with
     mutated fish.  Many times it does not matter what kind of assurance
     you provide, it is not answer they want to hear so they do not believe
     you.
     Take heart and do the best you can.  Try not to be a "technocrat" when
     answering the questions.
     Jim Reese
     jreese@ddrw.dla.mil
     These are only my thoughts.

______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Radio-Phobia
Author:  <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu > at SMTPGATE
Date:    9/30/97 2:37 PM

RADSAFERs,
We just received a request to investigate an employee complaint.  Here's
the email we got---
"A worker ... called and is concerned about the air quality.  Specifically
she thinks there is radon and radiation in the air.  And the radiation is
causing the air to be stuffy.  She is very concerned."
Is this a common occurrance at your facility?
I spoke directly with the person and even after assuring her that there was
NOT a problem in her workplace, it left me with a feeling that she was NOT
satisfied.  (We also had the IH staff visit her office and they are
performing CO-2 and Temp/Humidity study.)

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Tad  Blanchard            /__ \ /___\   NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
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