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----- Original Message -----
From: Gene
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 4:22 PM
Subject: [MbrExchange] EnLG 2003july2 French Academy Of Medicine
says nuclear is the electricity source with the least public health
impact France's Academy Of Medicine says nuclear should be "maintained" because it is the electricity source with the least public health impact per kilowatt-hour. In an opinion issued July 1, the academy said more research is needed into the health effects of low doses of chemical and radioactive toxins, repeating an earlier opinion that estimating health effects based on the linear no-threshold theory of radiation dose effects "is not scientifically justified." Energy supply disruptions represent "the gravest danger for health," the doctors said, noting the health consequences of blackouts in times of extreme temperatures. Energy prices should be kept "rather low" to "avoid rationing by cost," they said, and attention should be paid to the health threats of climate change due to greenhouse gases. The academy said it plans to issue an opinion on France's options for management of high-level and long-lived radioactive wastes. The academy's opinion can be view on its Web site at http://www.academie-medecine.fr. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>... NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE 16, STREET BONAPARTE? 75272 PARIS CEDEX 06 TEL.: 01 42 34 57 70? FAX: 01 40 46 87 55 _______ COMMUNICATED Energy Choices and Health Recommendations Andre AURENGO in the name of the working group composed of: R. ARDAILLOU, A. AURENGO, P.R. BAUQUIS, G BLAUDIN of TEA B FESTY, J LAMBROZO, R. MASSES, G MILHAUD, Mr. TUBIANA. After having examined the relations between energy choices and health, made the Academy, in this field, five recommendations. GOOGLE translation foloows 1. To firstly take care to avoid the ruptures in energy distribution(?) Indeed, the most serious health risk is to miss energies as to differing degree the bond between medical state and energy expenditure in the countries in the process of development show it, importance at the same time of the chain of the cold and the fight against the extreme temperatures, as well as the medical consequences of the ruptures distribution(?) as knew still recently certain countries of them. The price of energies must be maintained rather low to avoid a rationing by the cost for the social classes most underprivileged. 2. To maintain the die nuclear insofar as it s?avère to have the weakest impact on health per kWh produced compared to the dies using of fossil fuels, biomass or incineration of waste (because of the air pollution involved) or even, as shows it in particular the Externe report/ratio of the European Commission, when one compares it with the wind power and photovoltaic (mainly because of the pollutants released during the cycle of life of the devices). Academy will s?exprimera in good time on the solutions which will be adopted for the management of the nuclear waste of very long activity and lifespan high. 3. To encourage a significant effort of research in the field of the mechanisms and of evaluation of the medical effects of low dose, qu?il s?agisse chemical or radioactive poisons. Academy recalls that estimation of the medical consequences of weak irradiations (lower than some mSv) or of weak concentrations the carcinogenic ones to the means a relation linear amount-effect without threshold, not of scientific justification. 4. To continue the industrial efforts and of research engaged successfully since twenty years to reduce pollution due to transport and the industrial and domestic wastes, to highlight the most implied chemical substances, systematically to take them into account in the monitoring of quality to l?air external and interior and to support the setting in?uvre means aiming at reducing them. 5. To be attentive with the threats which makes run to health, by effect of the climatic changes, augmentation of the atmospheric content of greenhouse gas . This increase continues in the developed countries and will be amplified by industrialization of the developing countries which, without aide of the rich countries, will inevitably have recourse to fossil fuels. Académie, seized in its meeting of Tuesday July 1, 2003, adopted the text of this official statement with unanimity minus an abstention. For certified copy, the perpetual Secretary, Professor Jacques-Louis BINET |