Common Sources of Radiation

All figures for radiation exposure are average values.

Where You Live Annual Dose

Exposure depends on your elevation (how much air is above you to block radiation). Amounts listed are per year.

Elevations: Atlanta 1050; Chicago 595; Dallas 436; Denver 5280; Las Vegas 2000; Minneapolis 815; Pittsburg 1200; St. Louis 455; Salt Lake City 4400; Spokane 1890. USGS GNIS Search.

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Terrestrial (from the ground)

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House Construction

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Power Plants

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Food, Water, and Air Annual Dose

Internal Radiation *

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Internal Radiation *

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How You Live Annual Dose

Hours (0.5 mrem per hour in the air)

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Medical Tests Annual Dose

Medical Diagnostic Tests ‡

Number of millirems are per procedure and are average values. Actual numbers may vary.

Enter the number of procedures per year.

(10 mrem each)

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(40 mrem each)

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(10 mrem each)

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(20 mrem each)

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(150 mrem each)

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(600 mrem each)

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(70 mrem each)

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(800 mrem each)

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(60 mrem each)

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(70 mrem each)

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(0.5 mrem each)

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(0.1 mrem each)

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(200 mrem each)

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(700 mrem each)

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(800 mrem each)

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(600 mrem each)

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(10 mrem each)

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(1200 mrem each)

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(1000 mrem each)

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(600 mrem each)

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(1274 mrem each)

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(300 mrem each)

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Your Estimated Annual Radiation Dose:

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