Re: How to explain that "no risk" can't be proven (EMF)

[BLHamrick@aol.com]

In a message dated 09/14/1999 1:18:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
bcradsafers@hotmail.com writes:

<< /////: Now, my question to you fellow Radsafers: How do you explain to 
 people that "undangerous" cannot be proven? Do you have any particularly 
 useful examples that helps "common sense" (common?!). >>

Good question...It's a little like proving fairies don't exist.

I think of it like this...If I'm looking at a beach full of seashells, as far 
as the eye can see, and someone asks me to "prove" that seashells can be 
fluorescent green (have a finite risk of identifiable harm), then all I have 
to do is find one green fluorescent seashell, and my work is done.

But, I can never, ever prove there are no fluorescent green seashells (no 
risk of harm).  The best I can do is say they probably don't exist.  How 
probably?  Probably enough for me, but probably not enough for anyone who 
also believes in fairies.

Barbara
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