Question

The average person in the United States is exposed to the following amount of radiations annually. Rank the following source of radiation in the increasing order of their ability to cause harm to living tissue.

Weapons-test fallout 1 millirem
Cosmic radiation 26 millirems
Air (radon-222) 0.198 rems
Diagnostic X rays 0.040 rems
Television tubes 11 millirems
Nuclear medicine 0.015 rems
Ground 33 millirems

Answer 1

The increasing order of the ability to cause harm to living tissue:

Weapons < Television tubes < Nuclear medicine < Cosmic radiation <Ground < Diagnostic X rays < Air (radon-222)

Step-by-step explanation:

Here, the ability of the radiation to harm living tissue is measured in terms of millirem

Unit conversion:

`1\ millirem = (1)/(1000)\  rem = 0.001\ rem\\\\or,\ 1\ rem = 1000\ millirem`

The given radiation doses can be converted into units of millirems for comparison:

Weapons test fallout = 1 millirem

Cosmic radiation = 26 millirems

Air (radon-222) = 0.198 rems = 198 millirems

Diagnostic X rays = 0.040 rems = 40 millirems

Television tubes = 11 millirems

Nuclear medicine = 0.015 rems = 15 millirem

Ground = 33 millirems

Since a greater dosage of radiation would lead to greater risk, the increasing order of their ability to cause harm to living tissue would be:

Weapons < Television tubes < Nuclear medicine < Cosmic radiation <Ground < Diagnostic X rays < Air (radon-222)