3 ms·
That's been the heuristic since the 1950s. Now we have much more data on low-dose ionizing radiation. Regulations still assume linear no-threshold, yet no one h
by acidburnNSA 6y ago
That's been the heuristic since the 1950s. Now we have much more data on low-dose ionizing radiation. Regulations still assume linear no-threshold, yet no one has definitively shown that anything below 100 mSv causes harm or good using vast amounts of data (c.f. US natural background of 3 mSv/yr). Thus, my rule of thumb is to start worrying only if I get more than 100 mSv either acutely or integrated over a year.
I worry a lot more about eating hamburgers than anything less than 100 mSv.
- TeMPOraL 6y agoI agree, and didn't mean to imply otherwise. I was focusing more on the point about ionizing vs. non-ionizing radiation, which I swear to god had to drill into random people's heads in every imaginable way and combination. I assume this chart is still good to show to people: https://xkcd.com/radiation/ https://xkcd.com/radiation/?
- acidburnNSA 6y agoGotcha. Yeah lots of people don't get that. Yeah I still love this chart!