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 🙂
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[I have found this visualization of a radioactive material (uranium) helped me understand radiation more easily than many descriptions I read alone.](https://youtu.be/ZiscokCGOhs) The description of the video does a great job to explain the visualization in detail, I would recommend reading it fully. To crudely summarize what they have done is take a radioactive material and put it inside of a sealed box containing liquid alcohol and chilled to -40C. As a result ionizing particles and any traveling particles will leave a trail of condensing vapor behind them and allow these previously invisible radioactive particles to be seen by the naked eye. Note there are many different types of radioactive particles that have been observed to have different effects on cells and biology. Depending on what a Geiger meter is looking for (many can be set to measure different types of radioactive particles by using different filters over the sensor area) they are designed to make a noise when one of these particles hits a screen or sensor, and count these interactions over a period of time to give a reading of “radioactivity”. These particles can cause cellular damage to life when they collide directly with cells which isn’t likely but if you are exposed repeatedly or to a high dose of radiation, the odds of damage occurring increase.
P.S. if you watch closely you will occasionally see a trail from a particle that does not originate from the radioactive source. What you are seeing here is typically atmospheric or “background” radiation.
Also apologies for spelling in grammar and simplifications, editing to note I wrote this on my mobile so any corrections or additions are welcome!
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