What does the reading on a Geiger meter equate to in physical effects?

Question

I know 0.2 isn’t very worrisome but 1.5 is. What is the difference in the physical effects between these readings and readings 2.0+?

Thanks 🙂

In: 40

Answer 1

It depends on what unit it is. The unit for dose is Sievert (Sv).

1 Sv is very serious and could kill you. 10 Sv is a death sentence.

Typical background dose is around 0.1 µSv/h or less. Which is like a hundreth millionth fraction of a lethal dose, *per hour*. So essentially harmless.

Likewise, 1.5 and 2.0 µSv/h are essentially harmless, but the increased dose rate could indicate the presence of some radioactive substance, which might warrant further investigation.

If exposed during a short time, you could crank it up to 1000s of µSv/h and there wouldn’t be any measurable effect on your body. However such high numbers would be worrisome if for example it was at your workplace or in your home, and you would be constantly exposed for months or years. Then you would be likely to eventually contract leukemia.

Also small note: a Geiger counter/meter measures activity. A dosimeter measures dose.