Average Annual Radiation Exposure in the US*
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 |
Man-made radiation sources (average person's exposure) | |
Diagnostic x-rays 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 x-rays | 0.005 |
Chest x-ray (posteroanterior view) | 0.02 |
Chest x-ray (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. | |
† X-ray–based passenger screening devices have not been used in the US since 2014 but may be in use in other countries. | |