Tool 03

The Radiation Mythbuster

Radiation is around us every single day. Build your lifestyle profile and see your typical yearly background dose — then compare it with the science-fiction stereotypes.

Build your profile

Do you fly on airplanes often?Cosmic radiation increases at higher altitudes. Assumes a few cross-country flights a year.+30 µSvDo you live in a brick or stone house?Building materials contain trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements.+70 µSvHave you had a dental X-ray this year?Modern dental X-rays use incredibly low doses.+5 µSvDo you regularly eat Brazil nuts or bananas?Food contains naturally radioactive potassium-40 and radium.+10 µSvDo you smoke?Tobacco contains traces of polonium-210 and lead-210. This adds a significant amount.+300 µSv

Your annual dose estimate

310µSv

Your doseNormal range

Base human average~3,000 µSv / year
Chest CT scan~7,000 µSv (once)
Living near a nuclear plant~1 µSv / year

Select your lifestyle choices to see how they change your background dose. Notice that living near a nuclear facility adds practically nothing.

Wondering where these numbers come from? Read the FAQ or start with the radiation basics.

The science behind it

Why background radiation matters in the field

Natural levels shift with altitude, diet, geology and building materials. That normal variation is exactly what causes false alarms on simple counting equipment — and false alarms stop trucks, close terminals and waste responder hours.

EMP Solutions detectors study that daily background continuously, map it, and learn to ignore it — so an alert means something real.

▸Background is noise, not a threat — but only a spectrum-aware detector can tell.
▸Handheld simplicity: one screen, one clear verdict, no spectroscopy degree required.
▸Fewer false positives means faster ports, calmer crews and real trust in the alarm.