What is a "mrem?"
The millirem (abbreviated "mrem") is a unit used to measure the effect of radiation on the human body. There are many types of radiation, and the "mrem" accounts for the differences among these forms and effects of radiation. The millirem is a very small measurement of radiation. For comparison, the radiation doses from several common activities are listed below. These values can also be compared to those used in the radiation dose calculator.
| Activity |
Dose |
| Smoking a cigarette |
14 mrem |
| Chest X-ray |
10 - 20 mrem |
| Watching TV |
0.5 - 1 mrem |
| Owning a smoke detector |
0.008 mrem |
| Living for a year (all sources) |
360 mrem |
Or in other terms 1 mrem is equal to:Increasing your diet by 4%Taking a 5-day vacation in the Sierra Nevada mountains