|
It's appropriate to respond to the note from Jim
Dukelow by making the following points:
- Lost in all the rhetoric is the main
point in "Misplaced health worries in a world of hazards" that millions or billions are spent in compliance and
enforcement might be better used in ways that would save many more lives, and
sometimes the cost is not worth the potential benefit. I say "potential" because
in many cases, the risks involved are only hypothetical, extrapolations from
studies in laboratory animals that may have little or no bearing on
people. I bought the
book "How Much Risk? A Guide
to Understanding Environmental Health Hazards" and will read it soon. - Asbestos is one of many useful substances that
are banned because of scares that were created, and many people
now are employed protecting us from potential hazards that are
relatively small in relation to the significant ones identified in proper risk
assessments that count the many real people who were injured or killed, and the
doses received.
- The information I shared about the insulation
protecting the structural steel in the WTC was incorrect because I did not
listen carefully enough and did not investigate further, and I apologized for
that. In the discussions that took place, we learned that spray-on
insulation is not a very effective protection for large fires - a wall
of concrete is much better. This discussion process is very important
and useful, especially if personal attacks are avoided.
- "What drives
me nuts" is that very many smart people seem
to accept the myth that small amounts of radiation are a serious health concern
without investigating its accuracy. They do not openly challenge
the basis for this notion. They allow millions and billions of dollars
to be spent on compliance and enforcement. They allow very important
technologies (including medical treatments) to be hamstrung with fears and
over-regulations, way out of proportion to the actual number of people who are
injured and killed (very few). On the other hand, many lives could be
saved or extended and environmental damage significantly reduced if these
very many smart people investigated and challenged what is going on.
Will Jim speak out on this more important matter
also?
Jerry
|