Radiation Dose By Source
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Mar 21, 2011 at 3:39pm
Behold this really awesome chart that shows the ionizing radiation dose a person can absorb from various sources. I think one of the author's goals is to demonstrate how small the one-day radiation dose was for people near the Fukushima reactors on 3/16 and 3/17. But my takeaway is that it's bad to accumulate frequent flier miles and to participate in experimental brain scans (which I did a lot in college, for money).
See a fully enlarged version by clicking here.
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
Besides being jealous that one could get paid for irradiating their brain, thanks for exposing us to a healthy dose of reality.
I bet that standing close enough to a media campaign to further cripple our energy production would melt your face like the Ark melting Gestapo apparatchiks.
Mar '11
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
Diane,
Just because one of your presumable left leaning college room mates extolled you to have your head examine, does not mean you should oblige them. Your right leaning brain seem fine to us.
As for the comparative radiation dosing chart, it is just further evidence of how technologically illiterate our society estimates the relative risks of their activities.
Bonus thought; Which will kill you first? An accident from flying in a commercial jet, or cancer from your accumulated dosing from flying?
Sep '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
I spent 8 moths on a nuclear submarine and received a whopping .0007 rem.
GLDIII: Diane,
Bonus thought; Which will kill you first? An accident from flying in a commercial jet, or cancer from your accumulated dosing from flying? · Mar 21 at 4:43pm
A car wreck on the way to the airport.
Sep '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
months
Nov '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
I'm going to guess that your experimental brain scans were probably MRIs, rather than CTs, because there's not much research left to do on CT of the brain. MRI=no ionizing radiation; imaging is done with magnetic fields. While no one can really say what the long term effects are of being exposed to those magnetic fields, we have been mostly assuming that they are pretty safe. I wouldn't worry too much about your exposure.
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
You're right. Now that I think about it, they were MRIs. Good to know they're pretty safe!
May '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
Very informative. Thanks.
I've often wished I could get a brain scan just out of curiosity. I envy you, Diane.
Lileks has the look of a mad scientist. I bet he has the necessary hardware hidden in his basement.
Nov '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
Diane Ellis, Ed.
You're right. Now that I think about it, they were MRIs. Good to know they're pretty safe! · Mar 21 at 5:25pm
Thought so. There is a large amount of ongoing research on MRI or on the brain using MRI, Also it would be hard (not impossible, but quite hard) to get research approved that used CT-scale doses of radiation on healthy, young volunteers.
Mar '11
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
Wonder how long until someone who doesn't know how to read a chart spots "banana" on the list of radiation sources and starts a scare?
May '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
Diane Ellis, Ed.
You're right. Now that I think about it, they were MRIs. Good to know they're pretty safe! · Mar 21 at 5:25pm
Well, dammit, here I thought you were going to develop superpowers. If you do experience symptoms of nascent psychokinetic abilties, I could come up with some snazzy costume ideas.
May '10
Re: Radiation Dose By Source
If you have one banana a day then you get about 3.6 microSieverts in a year.
1 & 1/2 packs of cigarettes per day, the radiation dose to the bronchial epithelium in areas of bifurcation is 8000 mrem per year.
For more Banana based dosage fun seehttp://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/02/16/going-bananas-over-radiation/
Meanwhile the green Hydro plant in Japan has destroyed 1800 homes, and may have killed hundreds of people. I do not see the same level of outrage at that industry for the devastation it has caused.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/dont-fall-victim-to-nuclear-phobia-20110320-1c24t.html
Edited on Mar 21, 2011 at 8:56pm