Fear vs. Radiation: The Mismatch

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“Fear vs. Radiation: The Mismatch by David Ropeik states that radiation is very destructive to humans and our bodies (Ropeik 1). In this article Ropeik contradicts the fact of whether it is as devastating as we make it seem. We fear what we do not know. That is why we get scared of radiation and nuclear weapons, because we cannot physically see it so we don’t understand what it really consists of. Fear is something brought upon ourselves and until we learn to control it, it will always be around. As a result, Ropeik discovers that radiation is deadly, but at a very low percentage (Ropeik 1). “For the entire population exposed, often to extremely high levels of radiation, that’s an excess cancer mortality rate of about two-thirds of 1 percent” (Ropeik 1). In the article “Fear vs. Radiation: The Mismatch” it explains to us why we are so disturbed about radiation and the devastation of nuclear weapons. Although this is true from the studies that they have found, “only 527 out of 10,929 people were caused by radiation from the atomic bombs” (Ropeik 1). The Environmental Protection Agency has had plans set up for nuclear incidents which include a power plant accident, dispersal from a “dirty bomb” or even the detonation of an improved nuclear device (Ropeik 2). There have been many efforts to understand the real risks of radiation (Ropeik 3). There will always be the threat of deep historic fear that really doesn’t match the facts (Ropeik 3). Ropeik really enjoys his studies according to his topics. Risk is his most famous term used in most of his articles that he has written. Ropeik ... ... middle of paper ... ...simply says that we can either be afraid of something too minimal or too much, which either way it not good. If you fear something so much, your more prone to make deadly mistakes in the world and that is not right (Ropeik). Fear certainly adds to stress, which is bad for our health in all sorts of ways (Ropeik). Radiation is one thing, but fear us another and when these two collide it’s not a pretty ending. Ropeik demonstrates how we are dying of cancer even though there is a small amount of radiation in our area. It is simply dangerous and harmful. Ropeik wants to tell us that we should understand the fear we have towards radiation and if it’s truly threatening to us. We all fear radiation, but it will always be in front of us and we just have to learn to cope with it. Fear or Radiation, which one poses a bigger threat?

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