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The Environmental Pensacola News Journal
Mark
Y. Avelli
10/06/2003
Thursday's headline in the Pensacola News Journal (PNJ), "Senator puts radium on radar", continues to keep at the forefront its self-appointed, not too subtle, crusade of journalistic proselytizing to effectively mold and warp individual thinking of its readers. PNJ success in molding public opinion was clearly evident at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church meeting convened by councilman John Jerralds, Dr. Lanza, from the health department, gave a reasoned and objective summary of the health risks we are exposed to as part of daily life. Dr. Lanza emphasized the insignificant risk posed by radium in our drinking water. Unfortunately, his message fell on deaf ears. He spoke to closed minds molded by thousands of words of PNJ with an unblemished record of using propaganda to subjugate science to the pithy environmental papal bull pronouncements formulated by a band of confused alter egos at Jefferson St.
Novel thinking is needed. We should take advantage of the positive health effects of the small amount of radium in our water. There is a large body of scientific evidence showing that, a small amount of radium in drinking water is desirable. Epidemiological surveys in the U. S., Canada, Japan, Brazil and China consistently showed less mortality and cancer in populations living in areas with high radiation background levels. The positive health effects of radon have been recently verified in Europe by randomized double-blind studies, and in the 11 official radon spas in German speaking countries. Patients (75,000) have been treated in the well known "Heilstollen (healing) at Bad Gastien" who charge $550 for 10 hours of inhalation of low levels of radon. Since the panhandle promotes tourism, we should consider building radiation spas to promote personal health and well-being. This is an obvious additional attraction to lure wealthy tourists.
Current risk estimates are based on a, "Linear No-Threshold Hypothesis" (LNT) extrapolated from high-level exposure to radiation. Studies in progress on DNA changes in cells exposed to radiation show that the LNT hypothesis is flawed. Accordingly, all the unwarranted turmoil, mental anguish, fears and anxiety created by the constant barrage from the eco-raptors at the PNJ is sufficient cause to suggest that the PNJ rather than the ECUA be the focus of a grand jury investigation.
Mary Y. Avelli
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