Anti-Health Physics Cult Assembled At ANS Meeting

This is related to a recent post.  I guess there were several anti-health physicists (like anti-matter) at the ANS meeting.  I briefly rebutted what appears to be the main talking points at that site.  I'll repeat those here but finish up:



Regarding Matsui (who described various problems not associated with radiation), that has nothing to do with LNT. 

Regarding Sakamoto, well I addressed him more fully in the earlier link, again, nothing to do with LNT.

Regarding Mitchell, he is not aware that the atomic bomb data shows hypersensitivity at low doses.  He is simply wrong.  I can't link to it, you'll have to search "Radiation Effects Research, 177, Studies of the Atomic Bomb Survivors".  You should be able to find it.

Regarding Boreham, I don't know what study he is specifically addressing, he has done many.  Notice that almost all of them are on the subject of adaptive response.  It seems to be very agenda-driven rather than objective, though maybe that's just his interest.

Regarding Cuttler, many points made.  Yes, organisms have developed defense systems to survive, and yet they die.  Low dose radiation stimulates the immune system because it is damaging, just like a pathogen stimulates the immune system.  High doses overcome and suppress the immune system and cause other effects.  Fukushima radiation level depends on where it is measured.  Radiation protection standards have evolved to be more conservative as better and better risk estimates develop.  No radiation exposure is safe in an absolute sense, though can be in a relative sense.  Radioiodine can or can't be a significant cause of cancer, depends on the circumstances.  Radiologists don't normally prescribe total body radiation because there are more efficacious treatments that don't incur the radiation risks.  It is not just the rate of DNA damage that matters, it is the nature of the damage.  Radiation DNA damage differs from spontaneous damage.

Regarding Allison, well I've addressed him plenty in the past, just search his name within this blog.

Regarding Welsh, no real detail so if similar to Sakamato, then refer to my earlier post on the subject.

Regarding Pollycove, there is a science called "epidemiology".  Regarding his conclusion, I'd agree, I wouldn't worry about low doses of radiation, just like I don't worry about getting electrocuted.  That doesn't mean that low dose radiation doesn't cause cancer or I can't be electrocuted.