Yes, have a colonoscopy, it can save your life. I'm back to one colonoscopy every three years now.Unpleasant experience, particularly drinking the preparation on the day before but it has to be done if you are high risk!!!
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Does any one here draw the conclusion that the huge spike in cancers here from the 50's on is connected with the Atomic bomb tests by the UK? It seems no coincidence the fallout drifted over the food producing areas of NSW & VIC. at the same time certain cancers took off. Bob
Yeah, you are probably right on all counts, but I think there is nothing simplistic about radioactive fallout settling on food producing areas. I have some experience in the subject, being an instructor in NBCD defence for the RAN in another life. Doesn't make me an expert, of course. Bob
The same as happened when Chernobyl went bang back in the 80s Bob. Large swathes of Northern Europe where dusted with the fallout from that one. And have we seen massive increases in cancers in those areas? No. There is a spike in the area around Chernobyl, but not much further afield.
I would imagine the same would be said of those exposed directly to the tests, like has been seen around Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Actually the incidence of certain cancers certainly increased after the tests, especially the blood cancers. Some time after, almost a generation. Any way, a bit of info. Bob [ this doesn't really talk about civilian health problems.]
The United Kingdom's Nuclear Testing Programme: CTBTO Preparatory Commission
These are the nasty characters we play with when we dabble in nuclear testing [ just imagine the horror if we actually used them in anger, again]Bob [ makes beer look tame]
The times are the half lives of the beasties
CHART 1 – EFFECTS OF RADIONUCLIDES
Radionuclide
Half-life*
Health hazards
Xenon
(Xe)6.7 hours
Inhalation in excessive concentrations can result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death. At low oxygen concentrations, unconsciousness and death may occur in seconds without warning.
Americium-241
(241
Am)432 years
Moves rapidly through the body after ingestion and is concentrated within the bones for a long period of time. During this storage americium will slowly decay and release radioactive particles and rays. These rays can cause alteration of genetic materials and bone cancer.
Iodine-131
(131
I)8 days
When present in high levels in the environment from radioactive fallout, I-131 can be absorbed through contaminated food. It also accumulates in the thyroid gland, where it can destroy all or part of the thyroid. May cause damage to the thyroid as it decays. Thyroid cancer may occur.
Caesium-137
(137
Cs)30 years
After entering the body, caesium is distributed fairly uniformly through the body, with higher concentration in muscle tissue and lower concentration in bones. Can cause gonadal irradiation and genetic damage.
Krypton-85
(85
Kr)10.76 year
Inhalation in excessive concentrations can result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death.
Strontium-90
(90
Sr)28 year
A small amount of strontium 90 is deposited in bones and bone marrow, blood and soft tissues when ingested. Can cause bone cancer, cancer of nearby tissues, and leukaemia.
Plutonium-239
(239
Pu)24,400 years
Released when a plutonium weapon is exploded. Ingestion of even a miniscule quantity is a serious health hazard and can cause lung, bone, and liver cancer. The highest doses are to the lungs, the bone marrow, bone surfaces, and liver.
Tritium
(3
H)12 year
Easily ingested. Can be inhaled as a gas in the air or absorbed through the skin. Enters soft tissues and organs. Exposure to tritium increases the risk of developing cancer. Beta radiation emitted by tritium can cause lung cancer.
* ( i.e. amount of time it takes for half of the quantity of a radioactive material to decay)
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Wonder what this did for global warming. And they knew the dangers, Bob
Testing Times: CTBTO Preparatory Commission