Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!throopw
From: throopw@dg_rtp.UUCP (Wayne Throop)
Newsgroups: net.sci,net.politics,net.med
Subject: Cancer -- was 'Plutonium'
Message-ID: <365@dg_rtp.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 24-May-86 13:18:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: dg_rtp.365
Posted: Sat May 24 13:18:00 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 25-May-86 15:44:33 EDT
References: <651@bu-cs.UUCP>
Lines: 19
Xref: linus net.sci:607 net.politics:15500 net.med:3839
Summary: Again, a case of worrying about the *wrong* *things*

> bzs@bu-cs.UUCP (Barry Shein)
> I for one believe that reducing the manifold introductions of
> radioactive pollution from such sources as nuclear power plants,
> nuclear waste disposal and nuclear bomb testing to be an important
> step. It is not the only step, stopping smoking [is also important.]

The risks from radioactivity release are far less than the known risks
of other forms of industrial pollution.  Coal-fired power plants cause
cancer too, as do many parts of the petro-chemical industry, over-use of
pesticides, and on and on.  These chemical industry related cancer risks
are much better established than the cancer risks associated with
weapons production, and *much* *much* *much* better established than the
risks associated with power-plant-related radiation release.

Note well that I *agree* *strongly* that reducing environmental
carcinogens should be a top priority.  But I rather think that
nuclear power generation as a cancer risk isn't even in the top 10.
-- 
Wayne Throop      <the-known-world>!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!throopw