Inge Schmitz-Feuerhake
Encyclopedia
Born in Osnabrück, Germany on September 28, 1935, Inge Schmitz-Feuerhake's research has assessed the biological effects of ionizing radiation
at low dosage levels. From 1973 and until her retirement in 2000 she was a professor in experimental physics at the University of Bremen
. Much of her research concerned the areas of radiation risk and the effect of low-level radiation exposure, as well as the diagnostic use of nuclear radiation.
Her work made a major contribution to the development of biological dosimetry
methods in which changes to the chromosomes in white blood cell
s are measured with extreme precision, by making it possible to count the concerned white blood cells under the microscope.
She wrote of her scientific findings in comprehensible language, so that they can be understood by colleagues from related disciplines and interested laypeople.
Recently, she put forward arguments against the use of mammography
as breast cancer screening
. Her analysis showed that precisely those women who inherited a higher risk of developing breast cancer were put at undue risk due to the radiation absorbed during the screening. Her work was praised by the medical associations of several Lander in Germany.
Schmitz-Feuerhake became known in Germany for examining the rise of the number of children suffering leukemia
in the surroundings of the Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant
. In 1980 she examined dust in the attics of private houses in Elbmarsch
and found an amount of plutonium
that was not explainable by the Chernobyl disaster
nor by nuclear weapons testing in the 1960s. According to her, she could prove that the found plutonium and nuclear fission products had their origin in the nuclear reactor of Krümmel. She became known as “the most well-known and likely most relentless anti-nuclear activist” against the cancer cluster
Elbmarsch.
In 2003 Schmitz-Feuerhake received the Nuclear-Free Future Award
for her lifetime achievement.
She is also chairman of the European Committee on Radiation Risk
, a group of scientists opposing nuclear power; she was elected chairman in 2003.
Schmitze-Feuerhake is vice president of Gesellschaft für Strahlenschutz e.V. (German Society for Radiation Protection).
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
at low dosage levels. From 1973 and until her retirement in 2000 she was a professor in experimental physics at the University of Bremen
University of Bremen
The University of Bremen is a university of approximately 23,500 people from 126 countries that are studying, teaching, researching, and working in Bremen, Germany...
. Much of her research concerned the areas of radiation risk and the effect of low-level radiation exposure, as well as the diagnostic use of nuclear radiation.
Her work made a major contribution to the development of biological dosimetry
Dosimetry
Radiation dosimetry is the measurement and calculation of the absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the exposure to indirect and direct ionizing radiation...
methods in which changes to the chromosomes in white blood cell
White blood cell
White blood cells, or leukocytes , are cells of the immune system involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a...
s are measured with extreme precision, by making it possible to count the concerned white blood cells under the microscope.
She wrote of her scientific findings in comprehensible language, so that they can be understood by colleagues from related disciplines and interested laypeople.
Recently, she put forward arguments against the use of mammography
Mammography
Mammography is the process of using low-energy-X-rays to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic and a screening tool....
as breast cancer screening
Breast cancer screening
Breast cancer screening refers to the medical screening of asymptomatic, apparently healthy women for breast cancer in an attempt to achieve an earlier diagnosis. The assumption is that early detection will improve outcomes...
. Her analysis showed that precisely those women who inherited a higher risk of developing breast cancer were put at undue risk due to the radiation absorbed during the screening. Her work was praised by the medical associations of several Lander in Germany.
Schmitz-Feuerhake became known in Germany for examining the rise of the number of children suffering leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in the surroundings of the Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant
Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant
Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power plant in Geesthacht near Hamburg, Germany. It was taken into operation in 1983 and is owned 50% by Vattenfall via Vattenfall Europe Nuclear Energy GmbH and 50% by E.ON, and operated by the Swedish Vattenfall...
. In 1980 she examined dust in the attics of private houses in Elbmarsch
Elbmarsch
Elbmarsch is a Samtgemeinde in the district of Harburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the southern bank of the river Elbe, approx. 30 km southeast of Hamburg, and 20 km north of Lüneburg. Its seat is in the village Marschacht...
and found an amount of plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
that was not explainable by the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
nor by nuclear weapons testing in the 1960s. According to her, she could prove that the found plutonium and nuclear fission products had their origin in the nuclear reactor of Krümmel. She became known as “the most well-known and likely most relentless anti-nuclear activist” against the cancer cluster
Cancer cluster
Cancer cluster is a term used by epidemiologists, statisticians, and public health workers to define an occurrence of a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time....
Elbmarsch.
In 2003 Schmitz-Feuerhake received the Nuclear-Free Future Award
Nuclear-Free Future Award
Since 1998 the Nuclear-Free Future Award is an award given to anti-nuclear activists, organizations and communities. The award is intended to promote the opposition to uranium mining, nuclear weapons and nuclear power....
for her lifetime achievement.
She is also chairman of the European Committee on Radiation Risk
European Committee on Radiation Risk
The European Committee on Radiation Risk is an informal committee formed in 1997 following a meeting by the European Green Party at the European Parliament to review the Council of Europe's directive 96/29Euratom, issued in May of the previous year....
, a group of scientists opposing nuclear power; she was elected chairman in 2003.
Schmitze-Feuerhake is vice president of Gesellschaft für Strahlenschutz e.V. (German Society for Radiation Protection).