MAIL IRRADIATION ET AL. Re: irradiated mail article

[Guest guest]

see forwarded AP article below.........

<A HREF= " http://ibaserver.physics.isu.edu/radinf/mail.htm " >

http://ibaserver.physics.isu.edu/radinf/mail.htm</A>

MAIL IRRADIATION

IRRADIATION = 1. exposure to radiation 2 : application of radiation

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<A HREF= " http://us.altnews.com.au/nexus/microwave.html " >Dangers of Microwaved

Food</A>

MICROWAVES = " Technically produced microwaves are based on the principle of

alternating current. Atoms, molecules and cells hit by this hard

electromagnetic radiation are forced to reverse polarity 1 to 100 billion

times a second. There are no atoms, molecules or cells of any organic system

able to withstand such a violent, destructive power for any extended period

of time, not even in the low energy range of milliwatts.

" Of all the natural substances-which are polar-the oxygen of water molecules

reacts most sensitively. This is how microwave cooking heat is

generated-friction from this violence in water molecules. Structures of

molecules are torn apart, molecules are forcefully deformed (called

structural isomerism) and thus become impaired in quality.

additional exerpt from same link:

" Once the volunteers were isolated at the resort hotel, the test began. Blood

samples were taken from every volunteer immediately before eating. Then blood

samples were taken at defined intervals after eating from the above-numbered

milk or vegetable preparations.

Significant changes were discovered in the blood of the volunteers who

consumed foods cooked in the microwave oven. These changes included a

decrease in all haemoglobin values and cholesterol values, especially the HDL

(good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) values and ratio. Lymphocytes

(white blood cells) showed a more distinct short-term decrease following the

intake of microwaved food than after the intake of all the other variants.

Each of these indicators point in a direction away from robust health and

toward degeneration. Additionally, there was a highly significant association

between the amount of microwave energy in the test foods and the luminous

power of luminescent bacteria exposed to serum from test persons who ate that

food. This led Hertel to the conclusion that such technically derived

energies may, indeed, be passed along to man inductively via consumption of

microwaved food.

" This process is based on physical principles and has already been confirmed

in the literature, " Hertel explained. The apparent additional energy

exhibited by the luminescent bacteria was merely extra confirmation.

" There is extensive scientific literature concerning the hazardous effects of

direct microwave radiation on living systems, " Hertel continued. " It is

astonishing, therefore, to realise how little effort has been made to replace

this detrimental technique of microwaves with technology more in accordance

with nature. "

<A HREF= " http:// " >http://ibaserver.physics.isu.edu/radinf/food.htm#ama</A>

6. Does irradiation cause chemical changes in food, producing substances not

known to be present in non-irradiated food?

Yes, irradiation does produce chemical changes in foods. These substances,

called " radio-lytic products " , may sound mysterious, but they are not. They

have been scrutinized by scientists in making safety assessments of

irradiated foods. Any kind of treatment causes chemical changes in food. For

instance, heat treatment, or cooking, produces chemicals that could be called

" thermolytic products. " Scientists find the changes in food created by

irradiation minor to those created by cooking. The products created by

cooking are so significant that consumers can smell and taste them, whereas

only a chemist with extremely sensitive lab equipment may be able to detect

radio lytic products.

Friday January 11, 2002

Irradiated Mail Causes Illness

By CHRISTOPHER NEWTON, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A package irradiated as part of the government's

anti-anthrax screening gave off a noxious gas Thursday when it was opened at

the Commerce Department, sickening at least 11 workers, a fire official said.

The workers complained of nausea, breathing problems and throat irritation,

and two were admitted to a hospital in undetermined condition, D.C. Fire

Department spokesman Alan Etter said.

The FBI and hazardous-materials workers were dispatched to the scene and

blocked off 14th Street in front of the Commerce Department during the

evening rush hour. The building is situated at 14th and Constitution Avenue,

a block from the Ellipse.

Etter said a package of copy paper tightly wrapped in plastic gave off a

noxious gas when it was opened. He said health officials believe the

irradiation process can cause paper to give off hydrocarbons that are harmful

when concentrated. Gas was held inside the package at the Commerce Department

because it was tightly wrapped, Etter said.

Two women who work on the fifth floor of the building called 911 at about

3:45 p.m., after they began to have trouble breathing. The women, who were

not identified, were taken to the hospital.

As an investigation was under way, other workers began to call emergency

officials to report that they had some of the same symptoms.

Etter said irradiated mail has made people sick at least five times in

Washington over the past several weeks.

``People respond differently to this based on their current health

condition,'' he said. ``We don't know how serious it can get.''

Thursday's incident was the first indication that the screening for anthrax

spores or other biological agents in mail could cause health problems. Postal

officials have said only that the process could damage such perishables as

film and medication.

Officials have been irradiating mail to all federal buildings in the

aftermath of the anthrax scare in which two letters tainted with the bacteria

were sent to Capitol Hill.

Etter said Commerce officials would have to decide whether to allow workers

into the room Friday. A department spokeswoman did not return a message left

on her answering machine late Thursday night.