Low-Level Radiation Health Effects: a Compilation of Data and
Programs
Revision 4
by Mass. Emergency Management Agency
Edited by J. Muckerheide State Nuclear Engineer
Mass. Governor's Advisory Council on Radiation Protection
COVER
PREFACE
SUMMARY REPORT
Table of Contents
DATA DOCUMENTS 1.0
REFERENCES |
Preface
This Data
Document compiles scientific data on health effects of low-level ionizing radiation, and
biological data, which have been ignored in setting radiation science and radiation
protection policies.
This
Document is a summary resource of data relevant to radiation protection policy, produced
over the past 100 years, with substantial biological and epidemiological data that refute
the hypothesis that low radiation doses can produce adverse health effects in living
organisms.
The
use of this data can reverse policy initiatives that generate unwarranted public fear of
low-level radiation. This fear is exploited to justify expending US$100s billions to
reduce harmless sources of radioactivity by less than 1% of the natural variation in
background radiation. Such efforts cannot produce any public health benefit, and they
divert resources from real public health problems.
Substantial
scientific evidence indicates that natural radiation may be essential and beneficial to
biological function and health. Radiation science policy constrains such research, and
expends US$ 100s millions on non-substantial and wasteful research.
Qualified
scientists who produce "unwanted" results are constrained in research and
publication. Results produced despite this constraint are ignored and disparaged though
not scientifically refuted.
This
preliminary Data Document will be supplemented with substantial additional evidence from
the historical and developing literature. It is our objective to open the closed radiation
science policy process to incorporate valid scientific data, to initiate open and
technically constructive assessments of data not previously considered, and to instigate
confirmatory research where indicated.
This
Document is organized in three major Sections. These Sections are not yet fully developed.
Later versions will incorporate additional results from existing and current research,
research programs that are active, proposed, and others that have been terminated, and
comparisons of natural radioactivity sources with regulatory limits in force or proposed.
It will also present conclusions of scientific, technical and policy reviews performed by
Radiation, Science, and Health, Inc.
The
first Section presents selected DATA on radiation health effects that are generally
ignored in radiation protection policies. This data is organized by specific exposed
populations. BEIR reports and other sources used to support the premise that low-level
radiation is harmful and warrants costly intervention are included to the extent that they
document the lack of data to support the conclusion that low-level radiation is harmful,
and fail to consider valid, relevant, contradictory evidence.
The
second Section is to present RESEARCH PROGRAMS. This is to report on research programs
that have produced, or could produce, valid, relevant data that is not considered in
setting policy. This is to include programs terminated or unreported; relevant studies of
exposed humans or animals that are not investigated; and programs where the beneficial
effects of radiation are being studied in the laboratory, in populations, or in clinical
applications.
The
third Section is to present RADIOACTIVITY SOURCES. This is to document comparisons of
natural sources of radiation and radioactivity in various locations vs regulatory limits
on radioactivity that can be achieved only by costly, and destructive, regulation and
intervention, with no public health benefits.
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