Re: Food Irradiation propaganda help

[Bob Flood <bflood@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

At 12:28 PM 1/28/98 -0600, you wrote:

This article is good stuff and could be very useful when responding to
nay-sayers. Just let me add an idea.

>     Myth #1:  Using irradiation will increase the possibility of 
>     environmental accidents and worker exposure.  Truth:  There are 
>     approximately 40 medical product irradiation plants in operation in 
>     the U.S. (medical sterilization plants are very similar to food 
>     irradiation plants), none have been shown to endanger the 
>     environment. 
>     Due to safety and design considerations, workers are not exposed 
>     during the irradiation process. The regulation and occupational 
>     protection of radiation workers is considerably better than most 
>     occupational safety regulation . Irradiation of food does not 
>     involve 
>     the transport of .radioactive materials as these facilities are in 
>     fixed locations. 
>     
Also make the point that these facilities are not generating a continuing
stream of radwaste - there won't be any trucks full of radioactive stuff
driving thru your neighborhood or past your schools.


---------
Bob Flood
Dosimetry Group Leader
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
(650) 926-3793
bflood@slac.stanford.edu