4 ms·

Yeah, but we knew X-Rays were dangerous even then. We just thought it was ok in small doses (scientists were regularly burning themselves with X-Rays in the 19t

by RC_ITR 6y ago

Yeah, but we knew X-Rays were dangerous even then. We just thought it was ok in small doses (scientists were regularly burning themselves with X-Rays in the 19th century even). Correct me if I’m wrong, but mainstream science doesn’t really follow the same pattern of “bad for you but ok on small doses” (historically the most dangerous viewpoint to have) for mm-waves.

heisenzombie 6y ago
Well, you could definitely burn yourself with a powerful mm wave generator; but I'm not sure if that really says anything about safety.
- RC_ITR 6y ago
  Sure, it's not a perfect metaphor since you can burn yourself with high-energy light too. My point is more that it's a urban myth that we thought X-Rays were harmless in the 50's. We just had a bad understanding of the risk vectors & built a bad risk model.
hammock 6y ago
You can burn yourself with a large dose of mm waves. Microwaves have shielding on the window, and cell sites have minimum safe distance for humans.. "OK in small doses" is pretty much word for word[1][2][3] the viewpoint (that you call "the most dangerous viewpoint") offered for both mm waves and the old backscatter x-rays, which are still in use on mobile trucks and in prisons. [1]"The radiation exposure is extremely small" https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/are-full-body-airport-scanners-safe https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/are-f... [2]"the energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 1,000 times less than the international limits and guidelines." https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2017/06/08/tsa-completes-installation-state-art-checkpoint-screening-equipment https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2017/06/08/tsa-compl... [3]"negligible individual dose" https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/is-that-airport-security-scanner-really-safe/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/is-that-ai...
- RC_ITR 6y ago
  Wait wait wait wait. First - Yes backscatter x-Rays are bad - we agree on that. Don't confuse those with mm-waves. My parent comment is literally about how X-Rays are bad, so no conflict there. Second - High Energy mm-waves are bad for health (in the same way extremely bight light can be bad for your eyes). HOWEVER, as far as I can tell, none of those sources say prolonged exposure to low energy mm waves (like the kind in scanners) is bad. THAT's a big difference. Prolonged exposure to low-level X-rays is very bad. The same is not true for mm-waves (again, unless you have a source that says that).

by RC_ITR 6y ago

heisenzombie 6y ago

Well, you could definitely burn yourself with a powerful mm wave generator; but I'm not sure if that really says anything about safety.

RC_ITR 6y ago
Sure, it's not a perfect metaphor since you can burn yourself with high-energy light too. My point is more that it's a urban myth that we thought X-Rays were harmless in the 50's. We just had a bad understanding of the risk vectors & built a bad risk model.

hammock 6y ago

You can burn yourself with a large dose of mm waves. Microwaves have shielding on the window, and cell sites have minimum safe distance for humans.. "OK in small doses" is pretty much word for word[1][2][3] the viewpoint (that you call "the most dangerous viewpoint") offered for both mm waves and the old backscatter x-rays, which are still in use on mobile trucks and in prisons. [1]"The radiation exposure is extremely small" https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/are-full-body-airport-scanners-safe https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/are-f... [2]"the energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 1,000 times less than the international limits and guidelines." https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2017/06/08/tsa-completes-installation-state-art-checkpoint-screening-equipment https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2017/06/08/tsa-compl... [3]"negligible individual dose" https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/is-that-airport-security-scanner-really-safe/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/is-that-ai...

RC_ITR 6y ago
Wait wait wait wait. First - Yes backscatter x-Rays are bad - we agree on that. Don't confuse those with mm-waves. My parent comment is literally about how X-Rays are bad, so no conflict there. Second - High Energy mm-waves are bad for health (in the same way extremely bight light can be bad for your eyes). HOWEVER, as far as I can tell, none of those sources say prolonged exposure to low energy mm waves (like the kind in scanners) is bad. THAT's a big difference. Prolonged exposure to low-level X-rays is very bad. The same is not true for mm-waves (again, unless you have a source that says that).