In October 2006, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) released
a report entitled Science for the Vulnerable:
Setting Radiation and Multiple Exposure Environmental Health Standards to
Protect Those Most at Risk. The research
of Dr. Arjun Makhijani leads to a troubling conclusion: federal radiation protection
standards are dangerously skewed, thus
ignoring the most vulnerable members of
the American public.

Currently, the Department of Energy’s
“Reference Man” is a hypothetical adult
Caucasian male, 20 to 30 years old, weighing
154 pounds, five foot seven inches tall,
“Western European or North American in
habit and custom.” In other words, the
government evaluates safe levels of radiation based on what can be handled by a strong,
fit, well-fed, full-grown man in the prime of life.

IEER and a growing coalition of groups have
launched a campaign to change radiation protection standards to protect the members
of our society who are at the highest risk of exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals—
pregnant women, nursing mothers, fetuses,
and children. As Dr. Makhijani points out,
society pays a great deal of attention the reproductive rights of a woman who does
not want a child, but very little attention to
the rights of women who want to be mothers
of healthy babies.

Faithful Security is a proud part of the
“Healthy from the Start Campaign.”
Visit the campaign website today
to sign on to an
Open Letter to President Bush
and to download helpful materials
that will help you learn more
and take action.