Poll of radiation health scientists

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198605000-00007· OSTI ID:5488510

Cohen, B L

A sampling of 210 university-employed radiation health scientists randomly selected from the membership lists of the Health Physics Society and the Radiation Research Society was polled in a secret ballot. The results support the positions that the public's fear of radiation is substantially greater than realistic, that TV, newspapers and magazines substantially exaggerate the dangers of radiation, that the amount of money now being spent on radiation protection is sufficient, and that the openness and honesty of U.S. government agencies about dangers of radiation were below average before 1972 but have been above average since then. Respondents give very high credibility ratings to BEIR, UNSCEAR, ICRP, and NCRP and to the individual scientists associated with their reports, and very low credibility ratings to those who have disputed them.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 5488510
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Vol. 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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