Myth: No amount of radiation is healthy for humans #
Radiation has always been all around us and life has evolved in a world with significant levels of ionizing radiation. In fact, life would be almost impossible without radiation. We understand from recent findings of molecular biology that our cells have repair mechanisms that protect us from low to moderate exposure levels. 100 mSv per year would appear to be a conservative upper limit below which no biological effects are observed. Safety regulations have not kept up with findings of radiation health physics.
Myth: KiKK and other German studies demonstrates a higher rate of childhood leukaemia in populations living close to nuclear power plants. #
Fact: These studies have found groups, or clusters, of childhood leukemia near nuclear facilities, but clusters have also been found in areas where there are no nuclear facilities and have not been able to relate the clusters to the dose of radiation emitted by the facilities. Since childhood leukaemia is thought to be caused by several factors, other factors may have been responsible for the observed results.
The German study has long been debunked [1]. They used distance to the plant as a proxy for dose, i.e. distance to industrial areas. But the dose is not big enough at all. It did not distinguish between a commercial nuclear plant and other types that work with e.g. medical facilities.
If we believed that, we would have to stop CT scanning children immediately. Or ban people in most of the world from having children because of mutch higher natural background radiation?
