Let's talk...Radiation

With the recent earthquakes and nuclear plant failures in Japan, a new set of worries over radiation is taking over the globe. In my vicinity there are 3 large nuclear plants that if, God forbid, failed would cause the evacuation of 20 million people. Of course, with the evacuation of millions of people radiation exposure is imminent, which brings up a question…How much radiation can the human body take? Well…a lot! To put it this way, in one year we will be exposed to 2.0 mSv* of radiation, a CT Scan will give off 10 mSv per patient, and 50 mSv is the maximum yearly exposure limit set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for workers at a nuclear plant. In other words, you can have up to 5 CT Scans per year before radiation can pose some kind of a hazard to your health. In the case of an unfortunate meltdown, levels of 10,000 mSv are considered the fatal-mark. When the Chernobyl crisis unfolded a level of 50,000 mSv in 10-minutes was measured. Now, how do we get a better understanding of the health-risk associated with radiation? I have attached a chart that pretty much explains the whole ordeal in a very clean way no confusing way. I hope it clears up whatever question you have a about radiation.

• via "Information is beautiful"

* mSv = Milli-Sieverts is the international unit for measuring radiation.