Banana equivalent dose
Banana equivalent dose (BED) is a unit of radiation exposure, informally used in health physics. The concept is based on the radioactive isotopes, particularly potassium-40, naturally present in a banana. The BED is often used for comparing small amounts of radiation, to put them into perspective.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /bəˈnænə ɪˈkwɪvələnt doʊs/
Etymology
The term "Banana equivalent dose" is derived from the English words "banana" (a common fruit), "equivalent" (equal in value), and "dose" (a quantity of a medicine or drug taken or recommended to be taken at a particular time). The phrase was coined to express the amount of radiation exposure one might receive from consuming a banana.
Radiation in Bananas
Bananas contain a naturally occurring isotope, Potassium-40, which is a radioactive isotope of potassium. A medium-sized banana emits about 14 decays per second, or roughly 1 microsievert of radiation. This is a very small amount of radiation, but it is enough to be measurable.
Comparison to Other Sources of Radiation
The BED is often used to compare the levels of radiation exposure from various sources. For example, living within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant for a year exposes a person to 3 millirems of radiation, or about the same as eating 300 bananas. A dental X-ray exposes a person to about 2 mrem, or the equivalent of eating 200 bananas.
Related Terms
- Sievert: The SI unit of ionizing radiation dose in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one joule per kilogram.
- Becquerel: The SI derived unit of radioactivity, defined as one transformation (or decay or disintegration) per second.
- Radiation: The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.
- Potassium-40: A radioactive isotope of potassium which has a long half-life of 1.251 billion years.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Banana equivalent dose
- Wikipedia's article - Banana equivalent dose
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