Chicago Tribune Radiation Chart -Reply

[Jim Hardeman <Jim_Hardeman@mail.dnr.state.ga.us>]

Dr. Raabe --

The following is a blurb from the Saturday,
Oct. 2 Chicago Tribune:

"- A graphic on Page 1 Friday incorrectly
reported the levels of radiation exposure
for the onset of radiation sickness and for
a lethal dose. The correct levels are
200,000 millirems for onset of sickness
and 500,000 millirems for a lethal dose. In
the accompanying article, a reference to
the disaster at Chernobyl should have
described it as a steam explosion that
released radioactive material; it was not a
nuclear explosion."

I'm sure that this retraction was placed as
prominantly in the paper as the original
article (he said tongue in cheek).

Jim Hardeman, Manager
Environmental Radiation Program
Environmental Protection Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
4244 International Parkway, Suite 114
Atlanta, GA 30354
(404) 362-2675  fax: (404) 362-2653
Jim_Hardeman@mail.dnr.state.ga.us



>>> "Otto G. Raabe"
<ograabe@ucdavis.edu> 10/04/99 11:36
>>>
October 4, 1999
Davis, CA

On October 1, a graphic appeared on the
front page of the Chicago Tribune
along with the story about the accident in
Japan.  The graphic contains a
chart purporting to show health effects
from "Radiation exposure," and
claims that 5,000 millirem of exposure per
year is a "lethal dose," that
exposure to 2,000 millirem per year brings
the "onset of radiation
sickness" and exposure to 1,000 millirem
per year leads to "increased
cancer risk."  The sources are claimed to
be RERF, The Uranium Institute,
UNSCEAR, and the EPA. The graphic
credits David Constantine as the
author/illustrator.

Perhaps, those of you in the Chicago area
can find out more and contact the
paper. If you let us know the name of the
editor and his mailing address,
we can write to them.

Otto

		*****************************************************
		Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
              Institute of Toxicology &
Environmental Health (ITEH)
		   (Street address: Building 3792,
Old Davis Road)
		University of California, Davis, CA
95616
		Phone: 530-752-7754  FAX:
530-758-6140
		E-mail ograabe@ucdavis.edu
             
*****************************************************
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