When Beyond Nuclear submitted comments on EPA's proposed transparency rule (the agency's bid to make regulations of pollutants less protective) we were told the EPA’s attack on science-based protections wouldn't include radiation. Now EPA has appointed Brant Ulsh, a member of a group promoting hormesis (the misguided idea that a little radiation is good for you), as panel chairman of its radiation advisory committee.

 

Ulsh has recently written an article claiming that hormesis has been "arbitrarily" excluded as a potential model for radiation damage. In reality, hormesis is not applicable to establishing protections against radiation. In his article, Ulsh challenges legitimate concerns over thyroid exposures in childhood. He mentions nothing about disproportionate impacts on women and pregnancy, which EPA's regulations already do not fully account for. Ulsh has failed to respond to a published critique. Appointing Ulsh bodes ill for public protection from radiation exposure and Beyond Nuclear is investigating if his appointment violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).