Radiation.... serious, it’s affect on food sources, water, air, cell phones, airport scanners…

Radiation…. Knowledge Is Power

March 31, 2011





Radiation.....

U.S. reports say the readings are up and down (pretty much depending upon what news source you go to, when, what area you’re looking at, and of course, what type of radiation the source is talking about).  Now we have confirmation there are low level amounts of radiation in milk found in Washington State.

I’ve read and heard a lot about radiation in the newsand about how the levels not being serious, it’s affect on food sources, water, air, cell phones, airport scanners… and everyone is having discussions about it from ABC News to Dr. Oz.  Fantastic, I say, because as Sir Francis Bacon stated, knowledge is power.

Here are two maps showing air radiation levels in the U.S., but keep in mind, the data may vary because of what devices are used and what radiation is being measured:

The EPA has a U.S. map showing their air/radiation monitoring data.

The Radiation Network’s U.S. map is also available for people to see their air/radiation readings.

Just yesterday the EPA and FDA released a joint statement about radiation monitoring efforts.  Here’s a section of that statement that concerns me: 

“Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a miniscule amount compared to what people experience every day. For example, a person would be exposed to low levels of radiation on a round trip cross country flight, watching television, and even from construction materials,” said Patricia Hansen, an FDA senior scientist.

Now, no disrespect to Patricia Hansen or the FDA, but here’s my concern –

Granted most of us wander around, daily, dealing with radiation levels of all kinds, but what is the impact of all those brief, miniscule “touches” if you will, over time? Or just in succession?  In 2009, ABC News reported that Americans were exposed to 7 times more radiation than they were in 1980.  And let’s not forget about the data linking small amounts of radiation increasing the risk of cancer. 

I know people with asthma, what about them, or anyone else with chronic, respiratory type diseases?  How about my friends that don’t have microwaves, or watch TV, or fly? (Yes, I realize this may be rare but people don’t always indulge in technological advances and these scenarios do exist.) Basically…What about the American, or worldwide citizen for that matter, who is sensitive to the environment?

Here are two maps showing air radiation levels in the U.S., but keep in mind, the data may vary because of what devices are used and what radiation is being measured:

The EPA has a U.S. map showing their air/radiation monitoring data.

The Radiation Network’s U.S. map is also available for people to see their air/radiation readings.