These alarmists like Gundersen are getting desperate for something bad to happen. It doesn't happen, so they are going to create a buzz about something and create a panic. Gundersen is in the wrong job. He probably would have been better at buzz or guerilla marketing. Isn't there a law against instigating panic? Isn't there a law against yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theater where there isn't one?
Now, Gundersen is claiming that this "anecdotal evidence" proves nuclear contamination in Japan because some people report a metallic taste in their mouths. Just, who is reporting this?
From Washington's Blog, this sensationalist schlock:
The Russian scientists and firefighters who fought the Chernobyl fire reported a "metallic taste" in their mouth. That taste was from radioactive iodine. (It is well known that all iodine has a metallic taste.)
"It is well known that all iodine has a metallic taste"? Really? Can anyone confirm this? I've drank it before for a medical checkup that required using diagnostic scanners and it tasted like liquid talcum powder to me. And, what does this have to do with Japan? Nothing really, excepting that Arnie Gundersen says "there's widespread anecdotal eveidence of people reporting metallic tastes in their mouths."
Oh really? Here's what I found out after a search on Google about "metallic taste in mouth": http://bit.ly/kpdl8L...
Let's see... Take your pick. Click on any one of them about metallic tastes in ones mouth:
1) Does anyone get a metallic taste in their mouth from anxiety? ...
2) Apparently I taste metallic when I kiss. I've heard that pregnant women and get a metallic taste in their mouth.
3) Metallic taste in mouth now being reported in Japan and US west coast — Telltale sign of radiation exposure (Oh no. This one doesn't count. It's the same BS story from Gundersen. There are no stories about people experiencing metallic tastes in their motuhs excepting ones linked and related to this Gundersen story claiming ancedotal evidence. That's a royal FAIL Gundersen! Can't have facts, so let's capitalize on people's fear and paranoia and get them to imagine that this metallic taste is from Fukushima! Great idea!
- Sour
- Sweet
- Bitter
- Salty
- Umami--salts of certain acids (for example, monosodium glutamate or MSG)
Even with a long history of people having a metallic taste sensation in their mouths - translation: this is nothing new or unusual, the hyperventilating sensationalist tabloid crap continues:
There is substantial evidence of ongoing nuclear chain reactions. Another piece of evidence - as pointed out by nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen - is that there are widespread anecdotal reports of people in Japan and the West Coast of the United States reporting a metallic taste in their mouths:
How having a metallic taste in one's mouth proves ongoing nuclear chain reactions is left up to the reader's (or, in this case, the writer's) wild imagination. Haven't any of these people drank canned beer?
Also, they fail to mention that radioactive iodine has a half-life of 8 days and it still reportedly has a metallic taste in some people's mouths (as opposed to canned beer that has a metallic taste in everyone's mouth!)
But that is not enough to get everyone in a panic and get their dander up. The world is coming to an end for sure....
Excepting one teeny weeny little details at the very end of the article. It says:
Note 2: There are, of course, other sources of "metallic tastes".
Yes. Indeed. There are other sources of metallic tastes. But talking about pregnant women or cheap assed beer doesn't make for fun or sensationalist crap, does it?
I can think of a few other causes:
ReplyDelete1. Ketogenic diets: One day on low-carb is enough sometimes.
2. Any number of infections (due to inflammation or minor allergic reactions) in the stomach or mouth.
3. Any number of fairly common medicines, including tetracycline (a common acne treatment).
3. Two types of metallic fillings can cause induction under the right circumstances: metallic taste results.
Whenever I listen to Metallica, I get a heavy metal taste in my mouth.
ReplyDeleteI think worrying about radiation all the time can result in metallic tastes in the mouth. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteHello Mike
ReplyDeleteSome possible causes:
1. Your tooth fillings are working loose.
2. You are Robocop.
3. You've just had a drink of that Happoshu crap.
4. It's Christmas Day, and you've just found one of the silver coins your mother hid in the Xmas pudding. (UK only, possibly.)
5. You've just been punched by an iron fist in a velvet glove.
Will somebody please give this Gunderson guy something to do, so that he will shut up. I'm hearing a lot of "anecdotal evidence" that all this self-publicity is an attempt to win some work.
Best
Jeremy
At this point, calling Gundersen puts you in good company...every other nuclear official/scientist (all bought off by the industry) that said nuclear containment issues were a zero percent probability. Oooppsy-Doopsy! Granted, a metallic taste in the mouth is NOT scientific...but if all things remained consistent, and I tasted something "metallic", and I lived in Seattle during the disaster, I'd be at least mildly concerned. Especially given the government's consistent under reporting of the actual radiation releases. Bad mouth him all you want, I suspect you were bad mouthing him BEFORE the accident too. I guess it becomes an issue of credibility at that point, and the my money is on Gundersen.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh! "Marketing Japan"! That explains EVERYTHING. Your agenda isn't public health, it's putting money in your pocket..."It's all fine here! Just a little nuclear meltdown...Everything is FINE." There's that's the defining difference between you and Gundersen again. Credibility.
ReplyDeleteHello!? Annymous. If anyone is selling something it is Gundersen. before you believe what that guy said (and he's already been hugely discredited by Scientific American and several others) go see what his job is at Fairweinds Associates. That guys has the agenda. Wake up.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteYou wrote: "I suspect you were bad mouthing him BEFORE the accident too."
Wrong. Never heard of him until he started mouthing off ridiculous nonsense. Check Fairewinds Associates and see what that company does. Now Gundersen is a guy aiming to make money off this accident. Not me.
every other nuclear official/scientist (all bought off by the industry) that said nuclear containment issues were a zero percent probability....
ReplyDeleteMore made up "facts"..."every other nuclear official/scientist"?... "all bought off by the industry"?
Sounds like pulling data out of one's ass. Where's your proof?