Radiation whistleblowers in the 20th century
Examination of scientific whistleblowing about radiation risks in the 20th century.
This paper examines scientific whistleblowing about the risks of radiation in the second half of the 20th Century. Its target audience are students and staff interested in the history of radiation science, histories of expert whistleblowing, planetary health, and the environmental determinants of health.
History shows us that radiation risks are a battleground of scientific opinions, values and politics. Broadly speaking, a gulf has existed (and still exists) between official estimations of radiation risks and the risks observed by many distinguished scientists in the latter part of the twentieth century. These scientists found evidence that radiation risks, including cancers and birth defects, were greater than official estimates. However, they and their scientific reports were often adversely treated by officialdom - both in the West and the East. These scientists consequently suffered career blight, cessation of funding, seizure of their data, peer group ostracism, as well as public criticism and opprobrium. The rub of the matter is that, from recent findings, we know that these scientists were correct. This talk will thus highlight some of the most noteworthy examples of this scientific whistleblowing, summarise key findings, and reflect upon their salience to contemporary understandings of radiation risks.
Speaker
Dr Ian Fairlie
Independent Consultant on radioactivity in the environment
Dr Ian Fairlie is a radiation biologist whose primary interest is in the history and perception of radiation risks. He has degrees in chemistry and radiation biology and his doctorate at Imperial College was on nuclear waste policies. He was formerly the chief scientific advisor to the British Government's Committee on the Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (1999-2004). He is currently a Vice President of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and continues to serve as a consultant to NGOs in both Britain and North America. First and foremost, though, he considers himself a citizen scientist.
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