Americans are exposed to much more ionizing radiation (the potentially harmful type) than they were 30 years ago. Greater use of medical imaging such as CT scans accounts for almost all the increase. The tests can reveal serious health threats, of course, but they come with risks.
Radiation experts recommend that the public receive less than one millisievert a year beyond natural background radiation (3.1 mSv), not counting medical tests. As shown, common sources such as airport scanners fall far below that recommendation, suggesting that anxiety about certain technologies is unwarranted.
Among medical tests, CT scans are the greatest concern. Studies indicate as many as one third are prescribed unnecessarily. The average exposure for one scan is 7.1 mSv, according to David Schauer, executive director of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. “There is growing consensus that CT manufacturers should reduce CT scans to less than 1 mSv,” he says, adding that at a February meeting, companies indicated new technology could make that possible.
Also, see this Web exclusive on how much radiation we get from common sources.
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4 Comments
Add CommentCongratulations for bringing together the dose levels to which people are exposed to in a telling graphic. It is apparently a fringe "benefit" of the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear power plant. Main stream newspapers and journals have started appreciating the need for publishing facts about radiation.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisK S Parthasarathy PhD
Very informative chart - good job.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI wonder, what would the annual exposure be for an astronaut living on the surface of Mars? How about one living 10 feet underground on Mars, exposed to surface radiation 1 hour/day?
Very informative chart - good job.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI wonder, what would the annual exposure be for an astronaut living on the surface of Mars? How about one living 10 feet underground on Mars, exposed to surface radiation 1 hour/day?
These technologies are useful, but greatly overused.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI like to correct my doctor when he says, "We have to be sure".
I say, "No doc, I have to be sure".
Just to be sure, and informed, I get my med records before I see him again.
You're graphs are a great help.