See It To Believe It

[boxy]

After the Fukushima meltdown I saw a couple of references to research done years ago by the Soviets that indicated that lower levels of radiation did seem to give health benefits. Much like sunshine I suppose.

Given a choice - I'd prefer to be bathed in sunshine rather than radiation.

Sunshine is radiation.

[mantra]

Given a choice - I'd prefer to be bathed in sunshine rather than radiation.

Sunshine is radiation.

Of course it is. I should have said I'd prefer to be bathed in sunshine rather than nuclear fallout.

[AiA in Atlanta]

According to the Soviets, atomic radiation, like solar radiation, is health-enhancing at lower levels but becomes detrimental at higher levels.

There were Americans in and around those early nuclear tests who did get sick and die. Some of them were merely bystanders. These men in the video were fortunate the military didn't explode a more powerful weapon above them. You can be sure it wasn't out of concern the military didn't.

[Mattus]

According to the Soviets, atomic radiation, like solar radiation, is health-enhancing at lower levels but becomes detrimental at higher levels.

Most things are. hormesis

[Super Nova]

Given a choice - I'd prefer to be bathed in sunshine rather than radiation.

Sunshine is radiation.

Of course it is. I should have said I'd prefer to be bathed in sunshine rather than nuclear fallout.

Sunshine is radiation however they come in 2 major flavours.

1 Ionizing radiation - not too good for you
1.1 Alpha
1.2 Beta
1.3 Neutron
1.4 X-ray
1.5 Gamma

2 Non-ionizing radiation 2.1 Non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation - no real adverse effects unless you get far to much.
2.1.1 Visible light
2.1.2 Infrared
2.1.3 Microwave
2.1.4 Radio waves
2.1.5 Very low frequency (VLF)
2.1.6 Extremely low frequency (ELF)
2.1.7 Thermal radiation (heat)
2.1.8 Black body radiation

Significant amount of Ionizing radiation does get sent from the sun however the atmosphere (particularly Ozone) prevents alot, not all from making it to the ground. High energy particles like gamma rays zip through us all the time.

[AiA in Atlanta]

According to the Soviets, atomic radiation, like solar radiation, is health-enhancing at lower levels but becomes detrimental at higher levels.

Most things are. hormesis

Yeah, see your point but 2 million years of evolution has made solar radiation essential for our health. The same can't be said about atomic radiation.

[Mattus]

http://xkcd.com/radiation/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[boxy]

http://xkcd.com/radiation/

xkcd is pure WIN.

a cell-phone's transmitter does not produce ionising radiation* and does not cause cancer.



* unless it's a bananaphone

[AiA in Atlanta]

Looking at that radiation chart caused me to recall a conversation with a retired flight attendant who told me that the health of the profession is often poor. Is it b/c of long-term exposure to radiation?