Safe radioactivity

Published on Friday 15 January 2010 21:43

IN recent press reports, Oxford professor of physics Wade Allison has had the courage to state publicly that the alleged "scientific consensus" about low-level nuclear radiation being harmful is wrong. He is right to do so.

Recently, media and political assertions of scientific consensus are, rightly, coming under increased examination. This one, by preventing the world having sufficient inexpensive, safe and reliable nuclear power, has greatly and unnecessarily impoverished the human race for the past 30 years.

Not only is there absolutely no evidence to support the claim that low-level nuclear radiation is harmful, there is a vast amount for the contrary theory, known as hormesis, that it is beneficial.

NEIL CRAIG

Woodlands Road

Glasgow