During the 1950s nuclear bombs were tested on islands in the

During the 1950s, nuclear bombs were tested on islands in the South Pacific. In one test, personnel on a nearby island received 10 mGy per hour of beta and gamma radiation. At this rate, how long would it take to receive a potentially lethal dose equivalent of 4.5 Sv? Assume RBE = 1.0 for the beta particles.

Solution

Dose equivalent is Sv = dose in Gy * RBE

RBE for both gamma and beta gamma is 1

Dose in Gy is 4.5 Gy

so then time taken t = 4.5/(10 e-3)

t = 450 hrs

1 day = 24 hrs

t = 450/24 = 18.75 days