Radiation safety calculator
Choose the studies you are having to see the approximate dose and what it is equivalent to in everyday terms.
Select your imaging studies
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µSv · per study
How we keep the dose down
- Selecting the smallest field of view that answers the clinical question
- Using high-sensitivity digital sensors
- Tailoring exposure parameters to the patient’s age and build
- Using thyroid collars and lead aprons where indicated
Approximate total dose
µSv
microsieverts
Select at least one study to see the result.
Negligible Very low Low Notable — discuss with your clinician
What is that equivalent to?
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days months years of natural background radiation
The dose everyone receives naturally from the environment.
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flight hours
Cosmic radiation received at cruising altitude.
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chest X-rays
Compared with a common medical examination.
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bananas
An informal unit that helps put the scale in context.
The ICRP recommends a limit of 1 mSv per year for members of the public, excluding natural background radiation.
Please note
These figures are approximate published averages for modern digital equipment. Actual dose depends on the unit, the field of view and the exposure protocol. This tool is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice; the decision to perform any study rests with your treating clinician.
Reference basis: UNSCEAR 2008 for natural background, ICRP Publication 103 for the public dose limit, and AAOMR / SEDENTEXCT dose surveys for the dental examinations.