3.Numerical values and units to know
Typical values related to radiation and radioactive materials
Are food and drinks safe?
Let me explain about the threshold of radioactive materials in food and some of the typical radiation dose rate values in everyday life.
Numerical values and units relevant to food
Bq
Becquerel
Units used for radioactive materials in food
general foods
100Bq/kg
Strict standards
The safe limit of additional radiation dose is set at 1mSV or less per year for all ages and genders.
Milk
50Bq/kg
Stricter standards
Due to the high intake of milk by children, milk is governed by a stricter standard, which limits the allowed radiation dose to half of "general foods".
Infant foods
50Bq/kg
Stricter standards
Since children are considered to be more vulnerable than adults. Baby food is governed by a stricter standard, which limits the allowed radiation dose to half of "general foods".
drinking water
10Bq/kg
Even stricter standards
Products that are consumed in high quantity by everyone and cannot be substituted follow the most strict of standards.
Food is expressed in units of becquerels.
Everything for sale has to meet strict standards.
So food products and tap water are safe!
Numbers and units related to radiation around us
Sv
Sievert
Units used for effects on the body
Radiation around us
2.1mSv/y
Amount of radiation received from nature in a year
The amount of radiation received from nature in a year.
For more information, see "5. Environmental Radiation."
1mSv/y
Annual additional radiation dose
This is the limit set for radiation exposure in a year in addition to natural and medical radiation.
0.23μSv/h
Additional radiation dose per hour
Additional radiation dose 1 millisieverts per year, converted to per hour, plus the natural radiation dose.
Values and units with health effects
Sv
Sievert
Units used for physical effects
Approximate Health Effects
100mSv
A guideline to determine effect on human health
It has not been scientifically determined whether 100 millisieverts or fewer has an effect on the body.
Details are explained in "6. Effects on the human body."
Radiation is also found in nature.
We regulate it to make sure we receive as little radiation as possible.
When using Sv, make sure to check the units and see if it's in years or hours.
Here's the point!
Three numbers and units related to food
100Bq/kg
50Bq/kg10Bq/kg
Three numbers and units related to familiar radiation
2.1mSv/y1mSv/y0.23μSv/h
Units: millisievert/year, microisievert/hourValues and units relevant to health effects
100msv
Unit: millisievert