Mega-popular web-comic xkcd writer/artist Randall Munroe has created a really helpful chart showing radiation exposure comparisons. With the help of a Senior Reactor Operator at the Reed Research Reactor in Portland, Oregon, he compiled information on the relative radiation levels of things like daily life (none for talking on cell phones) to exposure at the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl (lots). With the ongoing fears regarding the partial nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, this should be of great interest to a lot of people. He notes at his blog though that there are bound to be mistakes since he is not a specialist and that this is intended for general information only. He also points to his friend’s own charts, which provides a Layman’s Intro to Radiation.
Chart by Randall Munroe (click to read full-size version)
According to his information, eating 1 banana is just as dangerous as living within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant for 1 year. Considering my past experience with bananas, I assume that means it is incredibly dangerous and merits immediate freak-out. Don’t let the bananas win.
(via Comics Alliance)
