Annual Radiation Dose Calculator

Your details

Higher altitudes mean less atmospheric shielding from cosmic rays.
Radon is the largest source of radiation exposure for most people. Average US indoor level is about 1.3 pCi/L.
Stone, brick, and concrete contain slightly more naturally occurring radionuclides than wood.
Each chest X-ray delivers about 0.1 mSv.
per year
A dental bitewing X-ray is one of the lowest-dose medical exposures, about 0.005 mSv.
per year
Lumbar spine X-rays involve more tissue and deliver about 1.5 mSv each.
per year
Head CT delivers about 2 mSv, roughly 20 times a chest X-ray.
per year
Chest CT delivers about 7 mSv per scan.
per year
Abdominal/pelvic CT delivers about 8 mSv per scan.
per year
A standard two-view mammogram delivers about 0.4 mSv.
per year
A PET scan typically delivers about 14 mSv due to the radiotracer.
per year
Airline crew receive about 3-4 mSv/yr on average. At cruising altitude the cosmic dose rate is roughly 0.004 mSv/hr.
hours/yr
Tobacco leaves concentrate radioactive polonium-210 and lead-210 from fertilisers. NCRP Report 160 puts the added whole-body effective dose at about 0.36 mSv/yr for a pack a day. The localised dose to bronchial tissue is far higher, but it is an organ dose and cannot be added to a whole-body total.
Burning natural gas releases small amounts of radon and adds roughly 0.09 mSv/yr.
Coal combustion releases naturally occurring radioactive materials. Nearby residents receive about 0.003 mSv/yr.
U.S. nuclear plants are tightly regulated. The dose to a nearest neighbor is about 0.0001 mSv/yr.
Total annual doseNear average
3.11mSv

Effective whole-body dose from all sources combined

Total annual dose311mrem
Natural background3.11mSv
Medical imaging0mSv
Air travel0mSv
Lifestyle sources0mSv
vs. U.S. average (6.2 mSv)50%
3.11 mSv
Below average<3Near average3-6.2Above average6.2-15Elevated15+

Your annual radiation dose: 3.11 mSv (311 mrem)

  • Your estimated annual dose is 3.11 mSv (311 mrem), which is below the U.S. average of 6.2 mSv.
  • Your natural background dose (3.11 mSv) is the part you have least control over; radon in the home is the biggest contributor for most people.

Next stepRadon testing is worthwhile for any home, especially in areas with naturally high uranium soils. Keep a record of medical imaging for context in future clinical conversations.

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