MaxedOutMama
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Voles Are Tough - Are People?
A new study conducted on voles by the University of Toronto at Scarborough found that exposure to higher than average background radiation had a good effect on their health!!!
This page has a lot more information about background radiation. There are certain areas on earth where there are much higher levels of natural radiation than across most of the earth's surface:
I suppose all of this is good news, because if we want to cut greenhouse gases, we are certainly going to have to rely on nuclear power.
The findings, published in the latest issue of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, found that low, chronic doses of gamma radiation at 50 to 200 times background levels had beneficial effects on the stress axis and the immune axis of natural populations of meadow voles. The paper provides evidence of hormesis from the only large-scale, long-term experimental field test ever conducted on the chronic effects of gamma radiation on mammals.Mind you, I'm not recommending that you send your kids to play near the local power plant. Voles only live a few years. High levels of gamma radiation are found in the upper atmosphere (flight attendants and pilots) and space. I believe some studies have been done showing that commercial pilots and flight attendants tend to get cancer at slightly higher rates than the rest of the population, but there is scientific dispute over the conclusions of those studies.
This page has a lot more information about background radiation. There are certain areas on earth where there are much higher levels of natural radiation than across most of the earth's surface:
Naturally occurring background radiation is the main source of exposure for most people. Levels typically range from about 1.5 to 3.5 millisievert per year but can be more than 50 mSv/yr. The highest known level of background radiation affecting a substantial population is in Kerala and Madras States in India where some 140,000 people receive doses which average over 15 millisievert per year from gamma radiation in addition to a similar dose from radon. Comparable levels occur in Brazil and Sudan, with average exposures up to about 40 mSv/yr to many people.The UN did a study that claimed more people were killed by the effects of the programs to help the population living around Chernobyl than by the accident itself.
Several places are known in Iran, India and Europe where natural background radiation gives an annual dose of more than 50 mSv and up to 260 mSv (at Ramsar in Iran). Lifetime doses from natural radiation range up to several thousand millisievert. However, there is no evidence of increased cancers or other health problems arising from these high natural levels.
I suppose all of this is good news, because if we want to cut greenhouse gases, we are certainly going to have to rely on nuclear power.
