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  Calculate Your Radiation Dose

Source Your Average Annual Dose (mrem)
Cosmic radiation at sea level (from outer space)          26
What is the elevation (in feet) of your town?


Terrestrial (from the ground):
What region of the US do you live in?


Internal radiation (in your body):
From food and water, (e.g., potassium)

        40

From air, (radon)

       200

Do you wear a plutonium powered pacemaker?

Do you have porcelain crowns or false teeth?


Travel Related Sources:
Add 1 for each 1000 miles traveled by jet this year:

Are X-ray luggage inspection machines used at your airport?

Do you use gas lantern mantles when camping?


Miscellaneous Sources: 
Weapons test fallout

         1

House construction:
Do you live in a stone, brick, or concrete building?

Do you wear a luminous wristwatch (LCD)?

Do you watch TV?

Do you use a computer terminal?

Do you have a smoke detector in your home?

How many medical x-rays do you receive per year? (40 mrem each)
How many CT scans do you receive per year? (800 mrem each)

How many nuclear medical procedures do you receive per year? (14 mrem each)

Do you live within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant?

Do you live within 50 miles of a coal fired power plant?
TOTAL YEARLY DOSE (in mrem)
  • The amount of radiation exposure is usually expressed in a unit called millirem (mrem). Radiation doses of more than 5000 mrem/year are considered unsafe, regardless of source. In the United States, the average person is exposed to an effective dose equivalent of approximately 360 mrem (whole-body exposure) per year from all sources.
  • The dose calculator is based on the American Nuclear Society's brochure, "Personal Radiation Dose Chart". Please remember that the values used in the calculator are general averages and do not provide precise individual dose calculations.
Reference Source: Environmental Protection Agency



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