Re: Why are some dentures radioactive?

[Wes Van Pelt <vanpeltw@idt.net>]

Bjorn Cedervall wrote:

sip.....

> A full set of porcelain dentures releases about 1,500 millirems of
> radiation in a year, which is about four times the natural background
> level.  Other factors that can lead to similar levels of exposure
> include living at a high altitude (from cosmic rays) and smoking
> (from elements in the smoke).
>
> More about sources of radiation in the human environment:
> http://www.em.doe.gov/fs/fs1f.htmlQuestions and answers about dentures:
> http://www.ada.org/consumer/faq/bridges.htmlAnother Cool Fact about
> dentures:
> http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/03/11.html
> A Cool Fact about naturally radioactive people:
> http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/12/17.html
> ______________________________________________________

Radsafers,
The above dose of 1500 mrem/y from dentures is compared to natural
background, presumably about 350 mrem/y. Natural background dose of 350 mrem
is an effective dose equivalent (EDE). Can we assume that the quoted 1500
mrem from dentures is an EDE?  If so, the local dose rate to the lips and
mouth must be vastly higher!
Can anyone tell me if this is so?
Regards,
Wes
--
Wesley R. Van Pelt, Ph.D., CIH, CHP            KF2LG
President, Van Pelt Associates
Radiation Safety and Environmental Radioactivity
mailto:vanpeltw@idt.net    http://idt.net/~vanpeltw/


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