microsievert
Tiny exposure unit
A microsievert is one millionth of a sievert, the standard unit for measuring radiation dose absorbed by the human body.
Because a full sievert represents severe exposure, everyday measurements use this smaller scale: The chest X-ray delivered about 20 microsieverts.
Background radiation from natural sources typically amounts to a few microsieverts per day.
Radiation dose unit
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- radionuclideDecay-prone atomic nucleus
- decayGradual organic breakdown
half-life · gamma · beta · alpha · neutron · fallout · contamination · Chernobyl
Protecting from harm
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
safety · decontamination · exclusion zone · evacuation · protective equipment · lead apron · distance · time
Measures electromagnetic radiation properties
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- quantificationExpressing something numerically
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
- activityEngagement in doing
Contact with ionizing energy
- cancer riskChance of malignancy developing
- radiation sicknessIllness from ionizing exposure
- DNA damageInjury to genetic material
- radiosensitivityVulnerability to radiation damage
low dose · chronic exposure · ingestion · inhalation · bioassay · public exposure
millisievert
Radiation dose unit
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- radionuclideDecay-prone atomic nucleus
decay · half-life · gamma · beta · alpha · neutron · fallout · contamination · Chernobyl · Fukushima
shielding
Protecting from harm
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- complianceAdhering to requirements
monitoring · safety · decontamination · exclusion zone · evacuation · protective equipment · lead apron · distance · time · exposure control
spectrometer
Measures electromagnetic radiation properties
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- quantificationExpressing something numerically
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
activity · threshold · reading · units · environmental monitoring
radiation exposure
Contact with ionizing energy
- cancer riskChance of malignancy developing
- radiation sicknessIllness from ionizing exposure
- DNA damageInjury to genetic material
radiosensitivity · low dose · chronic exposure · ingestion · inhalation · bioassay · public exposure
microsievertmillisievert
Radiation dose unit
gray · lethal dose · LD50 · therapeutic dose · background radiation
micro, microscope, microscopic, microbe, microbial, micrometer, microwave, microorganism, microfilm