Sieverts and radiation doses -Wikipedia

Keep in mind that the background of radiation in millisievert (mSv) is 2.4 mSv per year

SI multiples and conversions

Frequently used SI multiples are the millisievert (1 mSv = 10⁻³ Sv = 0.001 Sv) and microsievert (1 μSv = 10⁻⁶ Sv = 0.000001 Sv).

Equivalent dose is measured in the United States in rem^[3]:

• 1 rem = 0.01 Sv = 10 mSv
• 1 mrem = 0.00001 Sv = 0.01 mSv = 10 μSv

• 1 Sv = 100 rem = 100,000 mrem (or millirem)
• 1 mSv = 100 mrem = 0.1 rem
• 1 μSv = 0.1 mrem

The rem and millirem (abbreviated mrem), as with other customary units in the United States, are in wider use among the general public, many industries, and government.^[3] However, SI units such as the sievert are frequently encountered in academic, scientific, and engineering environments.

[edit]Dose examples

[edit]Single dose examples

• Eating one banana: 0.0001 mSv
• Dental radiography: 0.005 mSv^[4]
• Average dose to people living within 16 km of Three Mile Island accident: 0.08 mSv; maximum dose: 1 mSv^{[5][clarification needed]}
• Mammogram: 3 mSv^[4]
• Brain CT scan: 0.8–5 mSv^[6]
• Chest CT scan: 6–18 mSv^[6]
• Gastrointestinal series X-ray investigation: 14 mSv^[7]
• International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended limit for volunteers averting major nuclear escalation: 500 mSv^[8]
• International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended limit for volunteers rescuing lives or preventing serious injuries: 1000 mSv^[8]

[edit]Hourly dose examples

• Average individual background radiation dose: 0.23μSv/hr (0.00023mSv/hr); 0.17μSv/hr for Australians, 0.34μSv/hr for Americans^[9][5][10]
• Highest reported level during Fukushima accident: 1000 mSv/hr^[11]

[edit]Yearly dose examples

• Living near a nuclear power station: 0.0001–0.01 mSv/year^[7][9]
• Living near a coal power station: 0.0003 mSv/year^[9]
• Sleeping next to a human for 8 hours every night: 0.02 mSv/yr^[9]
• Cosmic radiation (from sky) at sea level: 0.24 mSv/year^[7]
• Terrestrial radiation (from ground): 0.28 mSv/year^[7]
• Natural radiation in the human body: 0.40 mSv/year^[7]
• Radiation produced by the granite of the United States Capitol building: 0.85 mSv/year^[12]
• Average individual background radiation dose: 2 mSv/year; 1.5 mSv/year for Australians, 3.0 mSv/year for Americans^[9][5][10]
• New York-Tokyo flights for airline crew: 9 mSv/year^[10]
• Atmospheric sources (mostly radon): 2 mSv/year^[7][13]
• Total average radiation dose for Americans: 6.2 mSv/year^[14]
• Smoking 1.5 packs/day: 13-60 mSv/year^[12][13]
• Current average limit for nuclear workers: 20 mSv/year^[10]
• Background radiation in parts of Iran, India and Europe: 50 mSv/year^[10]
• Elevated limit for workers during Fukushima emergency: 250 mSv/year^[15]

[edit]Dose limit examples

• Criterion for relocation after Chernobyl disaster: 350 mSv/lifetime^[10]
• In most countries the current maximum permissible dose to radiation workers is 20 mSv per year averaged over five years, with a maximum of 50 mSv in any one year. This is over and above background exposure, and excludes medical exposure. The value originates from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and is coupled with the requirement to keep exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) – taking into account social and economic factors.^[16]
• Public dose limits for exposure from uranium mining or nuclear plants are usually set at 1 mSv/yr above background.^[16]

[edit]

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