World Council of Nuclear Workers (WONUC). Report of the 1st international Conference

This, the first conference organised by WONUC, attracted papers dealing with many aspects of low and very low doses of ionising radiation, including molecular and genetic aspects and epidemiological studies. There was a lively debate on the 'linear no threshold' model and on whether Hiroshima/Nagasaki data should still be used to determine dose limits for workers and the general public. The conference highlighted the growing scientific understanding and debate of effects of low and very low doses of ionising radiation and it is important that workers in Australia should have first-hand access to this information. Indeed, if in years to come radiation hormesis is demonstrated, workers should be made aware of that possibility and the fact that their place of employment may hold an additional health benefit rather than a reputed health risk. I believe that such a positive attitudinal shift would certainly help nuclear workers to counter the ever-present negative sentiments of the anti-nuclear lobby groups