Table 9: Developing Comparisons for Risks due to Plutonium Exposure Voluntary Risks

  Risk Outrage (1) Health Study
Appropriateness
(2)
Sources of Radiation Intercontinental Flight no 4
  Eating Bananas no 4
  High Background levels no 3
  Indoor Radon no 3
  Watching TV no 4
  Medical Tests/x-rays no 4
       
Causes of Death
or Cancer
Airplane Crash no 4
  Motorcycling no 5
  Driving a Car no 5
  Boating no 5
  Swimming no 5
  Scuba Diving no 5
  Hunting no 5
  Saccharin no 5
  Household Chemicals no 4
  Smoking no 5
  1. For ‘Outrage’ a judgment was made as to whether or not the risk causes public anger, fear, defensiveness, frustration or suspicion.
  2. Risks were rated from Most Appropriate Comparisons (1) to Least Appropriate (5). 

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