23-08-2016, 07:59 PM
Hi Walter,
thanks for the complementary words.
I was simply trying to put some numbers about risk into some context.
However it is you who has done the real work here. -seriously impressed am I
From your closing paragraphs:-
Personally I am always a little cautious in trusting conclusions from multiple published sources with conflicting conclusions. Inherently I suspect that work which is giving inconclusive results is less likely to be completed and less likely to be accepted for publication. Hope I’m wrong but…..
MOBILE PHONES
Ironic isn’t it that this subject arose on a chess forum on a thread which discussed X ray exposure at airports. Chess events must be one of the few crowded public spaces where there should be no active mobile phone within many metres.
Knowledge has moved on since I was last well informed on the area. The reviewed articles you linked do are make persuasive reading on quick skim through.
Seems very doubtful to me that any government would restrict mobile phones, or even take meaningful steps to reduce exposures.
Last I heard objections to siting of mobile phone masts on health grounds were routinely disallowed.
POWER LINES
I get the impression that risk is perceived to be much lower than for Mobile phones. Would you agree?
OXIDATIVE STRESS
I do have reservations about accuracy of Wikipedia articles on complex medical matters. Traditional peer reviewed articles for me ………any day.
Having said that- Intuitively, I would put more faith into this Wikipedia article.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant</a><!-- m -->
Of particular interest to me was the section on Antioxidants as supplements. Show how complex life is at the cellular level.
Personally I take sizeable amounts of vitamin C when suffering with a cold. Might not work but it’s a placebo with a good taste.
RADON
Figures in table were new to me too. I was aware many years ago that NRPB undertaking a survey and publishing results with expected findings. The Uranium within Granite produces hot spots in Cornwall and Aberdeenshire
Since then NRPB has metamporphsised into (part of) Public Health England (PHE)
Map showing high and low Radon levels is here.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ukradon.org/information/ukmaps">http://www.ukradon.org/information/ukmaps</a><!-- m -->
For any particular room the radon level and risk level will be heavily dependent upon ventiliation. Unsurprisingly – ground floors and particularly basements tend to have more radon present than 1st floor and upwards.
PHE offer assistance for measuring radon. I very much doubt if there has been a significant take up.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Go back half a century and companies /scientists with a vested interest were denying health issues with tobacco smoke and asbestos. I don’t think there is any chance at all that Mobile phones, Power lines, airport Xray devices will ever fall into that category.
Tobacco smoke has had much legislative attention – for decades. I don’t expect it to banned any time soon though
Radon, however, I expect to create mounting concern in the future. For NRPB/PHE to publish the table on Radon risks that I linked to …. They will have thoroughly reviewed the data and been convinced of the conclusions. The numbers might change later but the conclusions won’t.
Surprises me that anti nuclear energy lobby groups don’t seem to mentions the Radon issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is a risk to everything we do in life including crossing the road – best not to do so while using a mobile phone. However mobiles are most dangerous when used while driving – so many well documented accidents caused that way.
Personally I refuse to use hands free when driving alone in the car – the world can wait until I park up.
thanks for the complementary words.
I was simply trying to put some numbers about risk into some context.
However it is you who has done the real work here. -seriously impressed am I
From your closing paragraphs:-
Personally I am always a little cautious in trusting conclusions from multiple published sources with conflicting conclusions. Inherently I suspect that work which is giving inconclusive results is less likely to be completed and less likely to be accepted for publication. Hope I’m wrong but…..
MOBILE PHONES
Ironic isn’t it that this subject arose on a chess forum on a thread which discussed X ray exposure at airports. Chess events must be one of the few crowded public spaces where there should be no active mobile phone within many metres.
Knowledge has moved on since I was last well informed on the area. The reviewed articles you linked do are make persuasive reading on quick skim through.
Seems very doubtful to me that any government would restrict mobile phones, or even take meaningful steps to reduce exposures.
Last I heard objections to siting of mobile phone masts on health grounds were routinely disallowed.
POWER LINES
I get the impression that risk is perceived to be much lower than for Mobile phones. Would you agree?
OXIDATIVE STRESS
I do have reservations about accuracy of Wikipedia articles on complex medical matters. Traditional peer reviewed articles for me ………any day.
Having said that- Intuitively, I would put more faith into this Wikipedia article.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant</a><!-- m -->
Of particular interest to me was the section on Antioxidants as supplements. Show how complex life is at the cellular level.
Personally I take sizeable amounts of vitamin C when suffering with a cold. Might not work but it’s a placebo with a good taste.
RADON
Figures in table were new to me too. I was aware many years ago that NRPB undertaking a survey and publishing results with expected findings. The Uranium within Granite produces hot spots in Cornwall and Aberdeenshire
Since then NRPB has metamporphsised into (part of) Public Health England (PHE)
Map showing high and low Radon levels is here.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ukradon.org/information/ukmaps">http://www.ukradon.org/information/ukmaps</a><!-- m -->
For any particular room the radon level and risk level will be heavily dependent upon ventiliation. Unsurprisingly – ground floors and particularly basements tend to have more radon present than 1st floor and upwards.
PHE offer assistance for measuring radon. I very much doubt if there has been a significant take up.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Go back half a century and companies /scientists with a vested interest were denying health issues with tobacco smoke and asbestos. I don’t think there is any chance at all that Mobile phones, Power lines, airport Xray devices will ever fall into that category.
Tobacco smoke has had much legislative attention – for decades. I don’t expect it to banned any time soon though
Radon, however, I expect to create mounting concern in the future. For NRPB/PHE to publish the table on Radon risks that I linked to …. They will have thoroughly reviewed the data and been convinced of the conclusions. The numbers might change later but the conclusions won’t.
Surprises me that anti nuclear energy lobby groups don’t seem to mentions the Radon issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is a risk to everything we do in life including crossing the road – best not to do so while using a mobile phone. However mobiles are most dangerous when used while driving – so many well documented accidents caused that way.
Personally I refuse to use hands free when driving alone in the car – the world can wait until I park up.