Re: Tooth Fairy Project

["Otto G. Raabe" <ograabe@ucdavis.edu>]

November 15, 1999
Davis, CA

In response to Ed's question about explaining the Tooth Fairy Project to
the media, my approach would be to start by showing them pages 18 and 19 in
BEIR V (1990) which shows that fallout and nuclear fuel cycle exposures of
the public to ionizing radiation are less than 1% of the normal annual
exposures that every American receives. This includes exposures to traces
of radiostrontium. There is no known or expected hazard associated with
normal levels of background radiation exposure. The National Academy of
Sciences is a respected source of this information. 

Also, note that the current radiation protection standards fully protect
the public from exposure to hazardous levels of ionizing radiation and
people are not being overexposed. 

Tell the media that the Tooth Fairy People are relatives of Chicken Little!
They exagerate the importance of tiny radiation exposures beyond all
reason. Even somewhat larger exposures such as those received in travel by
commercial air, moving to Denver, etc., are not hazardous.

Also, try not to use the words "dose" or "risk" since the media associate
different meanings to these four-letter words than we do. These words will
confuse them, and you may be misquoted if you use them.

I hope this helps...

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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