4 ms·

Time to whip out the XKCD radiation chart[1], which gives us measures around: * One chest CT per hour for touching the ore (or about 9 hours touching the ore t

Time to whip out the XKCD radiation chart[1], which gives us measures around: * One chest CT per hour for touching the ore (or about 9 hours touching the ore to reach your annual max dosge) * One head CT per hour for touching the bucket * nothing for 5ft away * One chest XRay per hour touching the cabinet (less than a cross-country flight LA <-> NYC) [1] https://xkcd.com/radiation/ https://xkcd.com/radiation/

mehrdadn 8y ago
I've seen this chart and yet it's always fascinating. A dental X-ray is like eating 50 bananas, and half of what you would get over the course of a normal day.
- saalweachter 8y ago
  50 bananas is an interesting quantity in that it is conceivable you could eat that many in short order, but I'd be worried about someone who did (but not because of the radiation).
  - paulcole 8y ago
    The record for bananas eaten in 1 sitting is 30: https://recordsetter.com/world-record/bananas-eaten-sitting/35143 https://recordsetter.com/world-record/bananas-eaten-sitting/... And the record most in 1 minute is “only” 8.
    - walrus01 8y ago
      That sounds like a challenge for Matt Stonie
- djsumdog 8y ago
  The CT scan is the interesting one. I've talked to some researchers about CT scans, and how they do increase cancer risks. It's not very much, but for serious long-term conditions you might get several CT scans per year and that could increase your cancer risk. When looking up studies the numbers are pretty low, usually under 10%, but it is an interesting risk to be weight against diagnosing and treating the underlying condition.
- lostlogin 8y ago
  The physcists we have had come in to check x-ray gear can generally do a conversion to banana equivalent dose in their head when asked. Seem to check out as accurate too.
- your-nanny 8y ago
  assuming the X-ray equipment is not faulty. I need to mention any specific famous cases of that not being true...

mehrdadn 8y ago

I've seen this chart and yet it's always fascinating. A dental X-ray is like eating 50 bananas, and half of what you would get over the course of a normal day.

saalweachter 8y ago
50 bananas is an interesting quantity in that it is conceivable you could eat that many in short order, but I'd be worried about someone who did (but not because of the radiation).
- paulcole 8y ago
  The record for bananas eaten in 1 sitting is 30: https://recordsetter.com/world-record/bananas-eaten-sitting/35143 https://recordsetter.com/world-record/bananas-eaten-sitting/... And the record most in 1 minute is “only” 8.
  - walrus01 8y ago
    That sounds like a challenge for Matt Stonie
djsumdog 8y ago
The CT scan is the interesting one. I've talked to some researchers about CT scans, and how they do increase cancer risks. It's not very much, but for serious long-term conditions you might get several CT scans per year and that could increase your cancer risk. When looking up studies the numbers are pretty low, usually under 10%, but it is an interesting risk to be weight against diagnosing and treating the underlying condition.
lostlogin 8y ago
The physcists we have had come in to check x-ray gear can generally do a conversion to banana equivalent dose in their head when asked. Seem to check out as accurate too.
your-nanny 8y ago
assuming the X-ray equipment is not faulty. I need to mention any specific famous cases of that not being true...