Is Radiation As Dangerous As They Say? VIDEO or DVD

Author:  John Cameron
ISBN:  22222
Published:  2001 | Video | Video

Price:   $ 25.00      was 35.00


  
  




Robert O. Gorson  |  October 2001


John Cameron, a highly respected nuclear and radiation physicist, is well known for his original and thought provoking presentations of controversial scientific subjects. The topic for this review is his 43-minute video taped lecture to the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation course of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute on August 9, 2001. It has a 12 page handout, which includes his recent article on "Is Radiation an Essential Trace Energy?" in the October 2001 issue of Physics and Society. Those who marvel at John's ability to present scientific concepts in a lucid and humorous manner that even a lay person can understand and enjoy, certainly will not be disappointed by this excellent presentation. This lecture is 'vintage' Cameron, guaranteed to challenge the tenets of even those who may differ with his conclusions.

John's thesis is simple: There is no scientific evidence that low level ionizing radiation in the range of 10 to 200 times the average background dose and dose rates are carcinogenic or in any other way harmful. Quite to the contrary. There are compelling studies which indicate that low level radiation exposure not only reduces the cancer death rate compared to background controls but also reduces the mortality rate in general. In other words, small doses of radiation are good for you and beneficial to mankind. It is as simple as that. He attributes this phenomenon to radiation stimulation of the body's immune system, although he does not attempt to explain the mechanism involved. John cites in some detail four studies which support his thesis, and proposes a simple, inexpensive double-blind study, which could further resolve the current controversy of whether a little radiation is inherently beneficial. If that should prove to be the case, John suggests additional studies will be needed to determine the optimum radiation doses and dose rate for maximum benefit so that programs to INCREASE the population exposure to optimum levels can be undertaken. Until then, he feels that the evidence already available is strong enough to bring into serious doubt the current ICRP/NCRP philosophies embracing the linear no-threshold (LNT) hypotheses and the ALARA principle. Indeed, John suggests that governmental agencies may very well be wasting billions of taxpayer's dollars in pursuit of ALARA to the detriment of public health. He even speculates, perhaps somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that the time will come (but not in our lifetime!) When we will use our radioactive waste selectively to enhance the population background exposure to optimum levels for maximizing the benefits for public health! Controversial? Yes! Will health physicists lose their jobs? Perhaps. Will the NCRP, ICRP and governmental radiation protection agencies go out of business? Maybe. Stay tuned. John points out that the public is badly misinformed about the fictional hazards of low level radiation and he offers practical advice for both patients and medical practitioners on how to equate diagnostic exposures in terms of equivalent background exposure times, thereby circumventing any misconceived notions of radiation risk.

Some viewers may wish that professionals had conducted the video recording, while others may find the low budget format appealing and consistent with John's frugal nature. In any case, this reviewer immensely enjoyed the presentation and highly recommends it to all medical and health physicists, particularly those who teach the fundamentals of radiation effects and protection.



Robert O. Gorson

Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics

Thomas Jefferson University