Topic Summaries

Background radiation and dose

GCSE > Physics > CCEA > GCSE Physics Topic Summaries > Radiation > Background radiation and dose
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Science skills: Measuring results

  • There is always a small amount of background radiation around us due to:
    • Radon gas in the atmosphere and cosmic rays from space.
    • Small amounts of radioactive isotopes in rocks and building materials.
    • Man-made sources, such as nuclear power stations and weapons.
  • When measuring activity, a background count should be taken to distinguish the activity from a sample from background radiation.
  • The radiation dose a person receives is measured in sieverts, Sv.
    • A dose of 10 mSv or lower will not cause immediate harm but could increase the risk of cancer.
    • A dose of 1,000 mSv will not be fatal but can make people unwell for some time.
    • A dose of around 4,000 mSv will be fatal.
  • Background radiation alone will give extremely small doses. The exact dose a person receives will depend on location and occupation.

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