Thursday, March 24, 2011
Radiation
I don't know how widespread this chart is already, but I figured it would be interesting for those who haven't seen it.
3 Comments:
By 
antithaca, at
Thu Mar 24, 09:55:00 AM:
This is why you instantly laugh at anyone who claims: "There is no safe amount of radiation".
That being said having worked on naval nuc plants for a few years it sure looks to me like Japan has the largest nuclear accident (by a wide margin) on its hands.
By TOF, at
Thu Mar 24, 10:53:00 AM:
Note the relatively large dose from a chest CT scan (in the green box).
I notice that the "journalists," especially from the NYT, view all radiation to be of the kind that goes through you like an x-ray. Nope. Those 50 workers that have gotten so much attention are seen covered in bunny suits and wearing respirators. That's because the dangerous stuff is radioactice gasses and particles that cause harm if ingested or inhaled -- or if come in contact with bare skin. Those things emit alpha and beta radiaton that cannot penetrate even a bunny suit; however, the radiation causes great harm if it gets into the body. There is still some penetrating gamma radiation.
If there is no safe dose of radiation, does that mean there is no safe dose of whiskey?
By Assistant Village Idiot, at
Sun Mar 27, 11:24:00 AM:
Thanks TT.
We never would have thought of getting our science from the comics, but xkcd knows his stuff, doesn't he? Geek pride.
