Background radiation

Background radiation is the small dose of ionizing radiation that everyone receives from natural radioactive elements present in the environment and from various human activity.

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The average annual dose of background radiation is about 3 mSv,[1] but varies a lot depending on the location. Convincing evidence of increased risk of cancer is available for acute doses higher than 100 mSv[1] ("acute" means during a few hours, not in a year). For lower doses the evidence is inconclusive. Some scientists think that risk of cancer is proportional to radiation dose - this is called the linear no-threshold (LNT) hypothesis. Others think that there is a threshold below which there are no effects. Yet another group thinks that small doses of radiation are beneficial - this is called radiation hormesis. Currently the scientific consensus is in favor of the LNT model, but not overwhelmingly so.

Sources
  • Radon gas in buildings - about 50%[2][3]
  • Direct irradiation from the ground and buildings
  • Cosmic radiation - about 10%,[3] significantly more for aircraft crew
  • Medical procedures, such as X-ray, computed tomography, scintigraphy and radiotherapy - 10 to 15% in the developed countries[2]
  • Smoking
  • Food and drink
  • Fallout from atmospheric nuclear testing in the 50s and 60s - about 0.3%[2]
  • CRT television/computer monitors, which are still preferred for some applications. They can be more energy efficient than flat-panels if used the right way (having most of the screen dark most of the time)
  • Household smoke detectors
  • Coal-burning power-plant emissions, roughly 3.3x the radiation dosage one would receive living the same distance from a nuclear plant generating the same number of watts of electricity.
  • Nuclear power - less than 0.01%[2]
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References
  1. U.S. NRC Fact Sheet on Biological Effects of Radiation
  2. http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/320-063_bkvsman_fs.pdf
  3. Sources of Background Radiation
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