Pegur
larger than the dose associated with an averaging of the equivalent
radiation energy over the entire lung.
A multiplicative difference of a million in a significant
physical quantity generally suggests a qualitative difference.
Suppose,
for example, that the problem were to estimate the effects of small
projectiles on human organisms.
Suppose that the projectiles weigh 1/2
ounce and have a velocity of 1000 ft/sec.
Note that the effect of the
projectile depends oa the energy, and note that a 6 ton vehicle moving at
1 mile per hour has similar energy.
There is experience with humans stopping
slow moving vehicles by exerting strenuous counterforces.
Using this
experience the effect of the projectiles on humans is inferred to be
oxidation of-the biolcsical fuel necessary to do the work of stopping the
vehicle.
But this reasoning is manifest nonsense.
Even though the energies
involved are similar, a fast moving rifle bullet is quite different from
a truck weighing a millicn times more and moving at a one-thousandth the
velocity.
The former dissipates its energy in the local disruption of
tissue, the latter leads to the ordered and non injurious oxidation of
biological fuel.
The end results become very different as the physical
characteristics Of the situation change, and a new biological phanomenon
intercedes.
Obviously the way to estimate the effects of rifle bullets is
either from past experience that is explicitly applicable, or alternatively,
‘to calculate the effects considering the physical characteristics of the
rifle bullet and knowledce of the biolegical and physical characteristics
of the human organism.
This nonsense example has much the same logical structure as the
method of estimeting hot particles effects set forth in Section 4.6.5 of