[TheoP (Theo)]

rem: USA unit for radiation dose absorbed by the body
Sievert (Sv): Metric system unit of radiation dose absorbed by the body


1 Sievert = 100 Rem
1 mSv = 100 millirem


1 x chest xray = 0.04 mSv = 4 millirem
1 x mammogram = 0.3 mSv = 30 millirem
Annual cosmic radiation from living at sea level = 0.24 MSv = 24 millirem
Annual living in Denver, USA = 0.5 mSv = 50 millirem
Level of radiation dosage that could cause some symptoms of radiation poisoning = 500 mSv = 50 rem
50% of people who received a 4,500 mSv dose (450 rem) at Hiroshima died of radiation poisoning.
Average annual natural background radiation in USA is 2.6 mSv (260 millirem).

Source:
MITnews www.web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1994/safe-0105.html
MITnews http://www.web.mit.edu/newsoffice/20...vity-0328.html

Spot reading of 1.4 micro Sievert = 0.0014 mSv = 0.00014 rem. This radiation level is NOT something that one should worry about.

The fact that a Geiger counter can measure a certain level does not mean that it is dangerous. Its like measuring your car's speed in mm/hour to make sure you do not exceed the speed limit. If you are driving at 1000 mm/h and increase your speed a thousand times you are still only going at 1 km/h.