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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #4488 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Environmental and Background Radiation — Airplanes

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

My wife and I take frequent cross-country trips. Should we be concerned with cosmic radiation exposure to our new born (two months old)? Are newborns more vulnerable to the effects of radiation than are adults?

Because of your concern about cosmic radiation, I assume that you are referring to cross-country trips by air. At lower altitudes, in small planes, the added dose is extremely small. Air travel by jet airliner at a higher altitude adds a small radiation dose to that which all of us receive from natural background radiation. Our total dose at sea level averages about 3 millisievert per year. Of this, 2 millisievert comes from inhaling radon and its radioactive progeny. Of the remaining 1 millisievert, about one-third comes from cosmic radiation, one-third from radioactive elements in our terrestrial environment, and one-third from within ourselves. Yes, we are all slightly radioactive, mostly due to potassium-40. These small doses of radiation are not known to be harmful. In fact, there is evidence that they may have beneficial effects on our health.

Conclusion: There is no reason for concern about excess cosmic radiation from your travels.

Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD

Editor's Note: Please see "What Are Some Sources of Radiation Exposure?" on our website.

Answer posted on 16 May 2005. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.