Re: MIT/LNT Extreme

[Al Tschaeche <antatnsu@pacbell.net>]

Harold Reynolds wrote:
> 
> I live in a rural area and my water supply is from a deep well.  I know from my
> own measurements that it contains significantly elevated levels of radon when
> compared to municipal water supplies.  As a health physicist, I also know that
> LNT and EPA say this results in an increased risk of cancer. If I let my guests
> from town drink or shower using my water, am I willfully putting them at risk?
> Can I be held responsible if I don't inform them and get consent before I let
> them get a drink?  I certainly can't plead ignorance.
> 
> Harry Reynolds
> 303-966-2708
> Harold.Reynolds@RFETS.gov

Harry, I can't let this one pass without comments.  I do hope you posted
this "tongue in cheek."  

If I were in your shoes, I would say nothing about the radon levels in
the water.  As a Health Physicist one must know that the EPA risk
estimates for radon are based on a hypothesis and that no known
deleterious health effects have ever been measured, seen, or in any
other way experienced by humans at the EPA levels or even significantly
above those levels.  Therefore, you cannot be " wilfully putting them at
risk."  There is no known "risk" at which you would be putting them.

Now, if you want to go into all the gory details of the current
controversy over LNTH and the information in BEIR V and other NAS and
NCRP and ICRP documents that clearly say the risk estimates are only
that: estimates, and could include zero risk (and the information on
hormesis and adaptive response), and so educate your guests, it might be
worthwhile.  However, I suspect few guests would want to be so educated.

No, I do not think you could be "held responsible" for not informing
them of a non-risk.  
No, you don't need consent because you are not experimenting on them.
I hesitate to comment on your last sentence.

If what you propose were to be common practice, then people who live in
Denver and invite friends from Michigan to visit would have to inform
their guests of the higher radiation doses in Colorado. 

People who live in cement block houses would have to inform their guests
from wood frame houses of the increased risk from the radiation from the
cement blocks.  

Airlines would have to tell their customers of the increased risk from
radiation while flying.  ETC. ETC. ETC.

But, maybe laws should be passed that require such information to be
given to everyone, including medical patients.  I don't know what the
people would do with the information.  It would be a neat way of
spending more money for no measurable benefit, though.

What a way to start the new year.  Al Tschaeche antatnsu@pacbell.net