RE: Dose Correlation

["Fulmer, Philip" <philip.fulmer@cplc.com>]

Jim,

Thanks for sparking my memory.  I've done the "sipping coffee"
calculation for several years but forgot where I initally got the idea
from.  The other examples are, of course, just as valid.

Philip

__________________________
Philip C. Fulmer, PhD, CHP 
Carolina Power & Light Company
Harris Energy and Environmental Center
3932 New Hill-Holleman Road
New Hill, NC 27562
philip.fulmer@cplc.com
(919) 362-3363      

>----------
>From: 	Jim Durham[SMTP:jsdurham@lamar.colostate.edu]
>Sent: 	Thursday, September 24, 1998 3:30 PM
>To: 	Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: 	Re: Dose Correlation
>
>According to Hall, in Radiobiology for the Radiologist, other analogies
>can be made.  He notes that
>
>"...a total-body dose of 4 Gy of x-rays given to a human is lethal in
>many cases.  This dose represents an absorption of energy of only about
>67 calories, assuming the person to be a 'standard man,' weighing 70
>kg.  ...  Converted to heat it would represent a temperature rise of
>0.002 degrees C, which would do no harm at all;  the same amount of
>energy in the form of heat is absorbed when drinking one sip of warm
>coffee.  Alternatively, the energy inherent in a lethal dose of x-rays
>may be compared with mechanical energy or work:  it would correspond to
>the work done in lifting a [standard] man about 16 inches from the
>ground.
>
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