Radiation Units

["Otto G. Raabe" <ograabe@ucdavis.edu>]

September 3, 1999
Davis, CA

The fact is that the only acceptable radiation units are SI units! The
whole world uses SI units (including the Russians) and all world-class
Journals require SI units exclusively. Those of us who still think in
curies and rems must endeavor not only to be fully bilingual but to use SI
units in our daily work. The typical daily dose of background radiation to
people from all sources is about 10 microsievert per day and 3.6 mSv/y.
Also, there are 37 mBq per pCi (or 27 pCi per Bq). 

The NRC and EPA both need to insure that SI units are used in all
regulatory matters. The U.S. radiation safety community should resolve to
use ONLY SI units. No more WL's, WLM's, curies, rad, or rem. These units
are gone and unacceptable. They are now historical artifacts. So that your
work has international meaningfulness, correct all your slides and charts
as soon as possible. [Note, the international literature continues to use
eV, keV, and MeV energy units.]

Sincerely,

Otto



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