Safe Amount

Safe Amount of Radiation

Threshold levels have been suggested for the various non-stochastic effects by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Setting a "safe" level of exposure of radiation is extremely difficult. A large number of sources emit radiations that are well below natural background levels. Any increase in radiation exposure is assumed to be accompanied by an increased risk of nonstochastic effects.

The uncertainty exists only with respect to the stochastic effects. Threshold levels have been suggested for the various non-stochastic effects by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA is a federal body charged with protecting human health and the environment. The effects of ionizing radiation are measured in terms of different units like gray (Gy), rad (radiation absorbed dose) and rem (roentgen equivalent mammal/man).(4^✔)

The following table comes from the official site of the EPA.

References:

1. Radiation: Ionizing - (http://www.ilocis.org/documents/chpt48e.htm)
2. Nuclear Radiation and the Thyroid - (https://www.thyroid.org/nuclear-radiation-thyroid/)
3. Summary Of Health Effects Of Ionizing Radiation - (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp149-c3.pdf)
4. Protecting Yourself from Radiation - (https://www.epa.gov/radiation/protecting-yourself-radiation)
5. Radiation and Pregnancy: A Fact Sheet for Clinicians - (https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/emergencies/prenatalphysician.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Femergency.cdc.gov%2Fradiation%2Fprenatalphysician.asp)
6. Standard Practices in Occupational Radiation Protection - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224061/)