Calculate Your Radiation Exposure

Radiation is everywhere in the natural environment, not just x-rays and CAT scans. Whether you're aware of it or not, your exposed to radiation every day, as you sleep, eat, and watch TV.

The average person gets about 360 mrems each year, but it's not uncommon to receive more.

For those who work with radioactive materials, the standard amount of milirems (mrem) of radiation that one can be exposed to is 5,000 mrem.

You can test how much radiation you're exposed to by taking the quiz below. Calculate your radiation exposure in mrems, and share your results in the comment box below.

Cosmic Radiation exposure depends on your elevation from outer space. The elevation tells you how much air is between you and the radiation above.

• at sea level: 26 mrem
• 0- 1,000 feet: 28 mrem
• 1- 2,000 feet: 31 mrem
• 2- 3,000 feet: 35 mrem
• 3-4,000 feet: 41 mrem
• 4-5,000 feet: 47 mrem
• 5-6,000 feet: 52 mrem
• 6-7,000 feet: 66 mrem
• 7-8,000 feet: 79 mrem
• 8-9,000 feet: 96 mrem

Terestrial Radiation

• States that border the Gulf or Atlantic coasts: 16 mrem
• The Colorado Plateau area (around Denver): 63 mrem
• Anywhere else in the United States: 30 mrem

House Construction

• House made out of adobe, stone, brick, or concrete: 7 mrem

Power Plants

• Live within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant: 0.01 mrem
• Live within 50 miles of a coal- fired power plant: 0.03 mrem

Internal Radiation

• Food (carbon and Potassium) and water (radon dissolved in water): 40 mrem
• From air (radon): 200 mrem

• Weapons test fallout (less than 1 mrem): 1 mrem
• Jet plane travel per hour: 0.5 mrem/hr
• Porcelain crowns or false teeth: 0.07 mrem (radiation only to the mouth)
• Been through luggage inspection at the airport: 0.002 mrem
• Watch TV: 1 mrem
• Play video games on a console or computer: 1 mrem
• Have a smoke detector: 0.008 mrem
• Use a gas camping lantern: 0.2 mrem
• Wear a plutonium-powered pacemaker: 100 mrem

The number of mrems are estimated to the closest value. Multiple the mrem count by the number of times each test has been preformed.

• X-Ray in an Extremity (arm, hand, foot, leg): 1 mrem
• X-Ray: Dental: 1 mrem
• X-Ray of the Chest: 6 mrem
• X-Ray of the Pelvis or Hip: 65 mrem
• X-Ray of the Skull or Neck: 20 mrem
• X-Ray of the Barium Enema: 405 mrem
• X-Ray of the Upper GI: 245 mrem
• CAT Scan of the head and body: 110 mrem
• Nuclear Medicine (thyroid scan, etc): 14 mrem