Re: Radon Information

[Charles Willis <caw@nrc.gov>]

Bernie,

Of course,  your radiological information about the relatively high doses from radon and essentially zero  doses from nuclear power is correct.  Your statement that "our Society is behaving insanely," seems; well let's call it hyperbole.  I must offer another viewpoint.

In my view, there is nothing insane about reacting to considerations other than biological risk.  Most of us are, to some extent, aware that the principal causes of death are heart disease, cancer and aging, yet most of us devote little of our efforts to combating these risks.  This is true in part because we are paid to do something else and that pay is important to address other concerns, including domestic tranquility.  Thus I see little role for insanity in the behavior of the professionals in radiation protection.

Much of what we do in radiation protection is determined by the Government(s).  To the extent that they care, senior Government officials are aware of the relative importance of the biological risk factors.  However, Governments (at least this democracy and the two dictatorships I have lived under) are far more concerned about public opinion than about  biological risk.  Perhaps we might desire that the emphasis be otherwise, but for elected officials, as well as for the rest of us, a desire to keep their jobs does not suggest insanity.

A number of people have said that public reaction to radiation seems to be a phobia, but it seems that this is indicative of a failure to separate the roles of the different players.  The activists are particularly important and some of them do seem a bit unbalanced, but for the most part, they are serving their own interests by selling books, building organizations, and generally enhancing their stature in certain circles.  Then their are the followers, some of whom are genuinely concerned.  This concern seems to be more indicative of an inability or unwillingness to perform simple analyses than suggestive of insanity.  They are responding to the messages they get from the media, and no one doubts the ability of the media to sell most anything.  The media folk also have good reasons for what they do;  the risk of greatest  concern is that of being boring, and good news is inherently dull.  Can you think of a Pulitzer prize that was won for reporting that some potential proble!
m was being adequately controlled?

And so it goes.  Most everyone in  the profession has the highest regard for the Bernie Cohen books, research and other efforts to make people aware of the relative magnitudes of the risks with which we live.  Nevertheless, I believe it important to recognize that the alarmist opposition has a substantial foundation; the problem cannot be resolved with antipsychotic medications.

Charlie Willis
caw@nrc.gov
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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