Average Annual Radiation Exposure in the United States*
Source | Effective Dose (millisieverts) |
|---|---|
Naturally occurring radiation sources | |
Radon gas | 2.3 |
Other terrestrial sources | 0.2 |
Solar and cosmic radiation | 0.3 |
Natural internal radioactive elements | 0.3 |
Subtotal | 3.1 |
Human-made radiation sources (average person's exposure) | |
Diagnostic radiography and nuclear medicine | 3.0 |
Consumer products | 0.1 |
Fallout from weapons testing | < 0.01 |
Nuclear industry | < 0.01 |
Subtotal | 3.1 |
Total annual exposure | 6.2 |
Other sources of radiation exposure (average per exposure or procedure) | |
Airline travel† | 0.001–0.014/hour of flight |
Dental radiographs | 0.005 |
Chest radiograph (posteroanterior view) | 0.02 |
Chest radiographs (2 views: posteroanterior and lateral) | 0.1 |
Mammography | 0.4 |
CT, head | 2 |
CT, body (chest, abdomen, pelvis) | 6–8 |
Barium enema | 8 |
Nuclear medicine (eg, bone scan) | 4.2 |
* National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Ionizing radiation exposure of the population of the United States. NCRP Report No. 160 National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, 2009. | |
† Radiograph–based passenger screening devices have not been used in the United States since 2014 but may be in use in other countries. In the United States, passenger screening devices use millimeter waves (mmW) that are a type of non-ionizing radiation. These same frequencies are use in 5G wireless telecommunication facilities. | |