RE: Scrap metal recycling -Reply

["Weiner, Ruth" <rfweine@sandia.gov>]

Well I wasn't going to get in this either, but I must comment on "voluntary
v. involuntary."  Let's forget about hang gliding or mountain climbing, or
even bicycling to work (as I do).  Let's take a real-life case: Gates Rubber
Co. (no relation to Bill) had a factory in Denver located so that the
workers could walk to work or take a bus.  Gates moved out of town to an
industrial park not served by mass transit and not within walking distance
of any residential area.  You can figure out the choice the workers had.  Is
driving to work a ":voluntary" activity under those circumstances?

This is not an isolated case.  I think many of us can find analogues in our
lives -- I know I can.  How about dental x-ray?  How often is one refused?
Is that a voluntary activity? 

There is a gigantic gray area between voluntary and involuntary activity,
and I propose that the distinction, when discussing risk, is meaningless and
spurious. 

Clearly only my own opinion.

Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
Sandia National Laboratories 
MS 0718, POB 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0718
505-844-4791; fax 505-844-0244
rfweine@sandia.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: GACarlson@aol.com [mailto:GACarlson@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 9:39 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Scrap metal recycling -Reply


In a message dated 5/5/99 8:51:30 AM EST, MFORD@pantex.com writes:

<< How can you distinguish an annual risk from 10 mrem/yr from
 making a choice on which road to drive in the morning? (which
 probably carries a mortality risk a couple orders of magnitude
 higher). Or walking on an icy sidewalk? Or spending a day on the
 beach with no sunscreen? >>

One way is voluntary versus involuntary.  There is nothing irrational about 
choosing to, say, hang-glide and objecting to being compelled to participate

in a 1-in-10-million lottery to see who gets cancer.

Glenn 
GACarlson@aol.com
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