Cosmic ray background in Denver

[JMUCKERHEIDE@delphi.com]

John,

NCRP 94 doesn't report Denver specifically. Fig 2.4 shows air and tissue eq
dose by altitude, with tissue dose 29 mrem/yr at sea level, and about 60
mrem/yr at 2 km. In the Summary section 9 it says the avg is 26 mrem/yr, and
the variation "doubles for 2 km". 

UNSCEAR 1993 says 24 mrem/yr at sea level, plus 30 mrem neutron = 270, and
Denver 570 mrem/yr (400 ionizing plus 170 neutron). Annex A, Table 2. 

Regards, Jim

> Not a trivia contest, but I urgently need to know what the cosmic ray 
> background is in Denver.
> 
> Im looking at a statement that comic background averages 20 mrem/yr in the US, 
> but is 50 mrem/yr in Denver.  I know that the 20 mrem/yr average is a bit low, 
> 30 mrem/yr would be closer, but what about the Denver figure?
> 
> Please reply by e-mail, as I get radsafe by digest, which is handy but delays 
> replies.
> 
> 
> John Moulder (jmoulder@its.mcw.edu)