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Generally, we try to apply scientific knowledge in some manner to benefit humanity. Often the application requires some standards or precautions so that the applications will have maximum benefit and minimal risk. One such application was that of ionizing radiation. X-rays were discovered in 1895 and found immediate application in medicine. Since it was seen to be innocuous as well as beneficial that their use quickly became widespread. Soon after practitioners of the newly formed medical discipline of Radiology, began to suffer burn-like lesions on fingers and hands due to using their hands to hold patients still for the x-ray exam. Some of these burns became necrotic resulting in the loss of fingers. Later more serious results occurred in the form of an increased incidence of leukemias among the radiologists. Observed biological effects resulted in the application of x-rays in the successful treatment of some cancers. The science of radiobiology was born and research on the biological effects began. One area that was studied early on was genetic effects in fruit flies ( drosophila) since genetic effects could be studied in many generations over a short period of time.
With the advent of nuclear power and the atomic bomb, uncontrolled human exposure to ionizing radiation became a concern resulting in the establishment of governmental regulatory agencies and scientific advisory committees to determine exposure standards/limits. The finding of these committees has had a widespread and lasting effect on society.
For ionizing radiation, the "consensus" was that biological effects were linear with dose and that any dose no matter how small has a risk and the damage incurred is not repaired. This was the basis for what is known as the Linear Non-threshold model. Edward Calabrese Ph.D., Professor of Toxicology, Umass Amherst, has delved into the history of this model and its acceptance as the basis for radiation protection standards. The Health Physics Society has put together a series of video interviews with him discussing the results of his study. There are 22 videos each about 25 to 35 minutes totaling about 10 hours.
While the history of the evolution of these standards is interesting, it contains some rather disturbing information that exposes the human side of scientific research and its use to determine public policy. Even if you are not interested in the LNT model it is worth watching for this alone. I encourage all to take the time to watch it.
http://hps.org/hpspublications/historylnt/episodeguide.html
With the advent of nuclear power and the atomic bomb, uncontrolled human exposure to ionizing radiation became a concern resulting in the establishment of governmental regulatory agencies and scientific advisory committees to determine exposure standards/limits. The finding of these committees has had a widespread and lasting effect on society.
For ionizing radiation, the "consensus" was that biological effects were linear with dose and that any dose no matter how small has a risk and the damage incurred is not repaired. This was the basis for what is known as the Linear Non-threshold model. Edward Calabrese Ph.D., Professor of Toxicology, Umass Amherst, has delved into the history of this model and its acceptance as the basis for radiation protection standards. The Health Physics Society has put together a series of video interviews with him discussing the results of his study. There are 22 videos each about 25 to 35 minutes totaling about 10 hours.
While the history of the evolution of these standards is interesting, it contains some rather disturbing information that exposes the human side of scientific research and its use to determine public policy. Even if you are not interested in the LNT model it is worth watching for this alone. I encourage all to take the time to watch it.
http://hps.org/hpspublications/historylnt/episodeguide.html