The McClatchy 'Irradiated' Report: Bad Science, Bad Journalism

[Marlin]

The McClatchy 'Irradiated' Report: Bad Science, Bad Journalism

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/12/21/the-mcclatchy-irradiated-report-bad-science-bad-journalism/

[Bonds 25]

My local paper, The Tri-City Herald made sure these article were front page for entire week. The articles were so bad (one article had a large bolded quote that said "once I saw the black powder,  I was toast") it prompted me to write (once again) to the editor......which I'm sure  (once again) will go unpublished.

People simply cannot accept the heavy metal aspects of Plutonium are more hazardest than its alpha emitting properties. The articles were terribly misleading and my continued subscription with the Tri-City herald will not be renewed.

[Jason9x]

I also read the Herald article and was very disappointed. It sounded like a bad nuke movie script. Its a shame to publish something like this, that will only spread more unjustified fears.

[Bonds 25]

While I do not work DOE, what upsets me the most is the radio-phobia (and fear mongering) displayed in these articles will of course spill over to my baby......commercial Nuclear Power. As it goes for Hanford, just because they made Nuclear Weapons (or the ingredients at least) out there doesn't mean the main health hazard is radiation. The heavy metals and ESPECIALLY the chemicals used to separate the Pu-239 have a MUCH.....MUCH greater chance of doing physical harm to ones health, yet every article referenced RADIATION as the cause to their cancer or whatever other ailment they have. Heck even one guy is worried about the bone cancer he "might' get years from now due to the 100 mrem he received......and he wants to get paid.

If you are 78 years old and develop colon cancer.....it is IMPOSSIBLE to pin point (the additional work related) radiation exposure you received 55 years ago to be the actual cause, however the Government has no problem writing checks to these people. If you are 70+ years old, you already have a good chance of developing cancer.....no matter if you worked DOE or not.