Medical Imaging and Radiation: Closer to Everyday Life Than You Think
By Brooklyn Murrell, Radiology Director – Pershing Health System
When you hear the word radiation, it’s natural to feel a little uncertain — especially when it relates to medical imaging like X-rays or CT scans. But did you know that the radiation used in most imaging exams is often similar to what we’re already exposed to just by living our daily lives?
Radiation Is a Normal Part of Everyday Life
Every day, we are surrounded by low levels of radiation — from the air we breathe, the ground beneath us, the food we eat, and even sunlight and space. This is called natural background radiation, and the average person receives about 3 millisieverts (mSv) of it each year simply by being on planet Earth.
How Medical Imaging Compares
Medical imaging uses carefully controlled, very small amounts of radiation to help doctors see inside your body and make accurate diagnoses. To put this into perspective, here’s how common imaging exams compare to the natural radiation we all receive from everyday life:
These examples show approximately how much “everyday life” radiation each exam is similar to.
| Imaging Exam | About the Same Radiation as… |
| Dental X-ray | 1 day of normal life |
| Chest X-ray | 10 days of normal life |
| Mammogram | 7 weeks of normal life |
| Spine X-ray | 6 months of normal life |
| CT scan of abdomen & pelvis | 3 years of normal life |
As another everyday example, a round-trip airline flight from New York to Los Angeles exposes you to about 4 days’ worth of radiation — simply because the plane flies at high altitude where cosmic radiation is higher.
Your Safety Is Always Our Priority
The bottom line:
Most imaging exams give you about the same amount of radiation you’d get naturally — and often much less than people expect. Medical imaging is a safe, highly valuable tool that helps your healthcare team diagnose conditions early and provide the best care possible.
At Pershing Health System, we follow strict safety standards and always use the lowest radiation dose necessarywhile still capturing clear, accurate images.
Questions? We’re Here to Help.
If you ever have concerns or would like more information about radiation or imaging exams, our Radiology team is happy to answer your questions.
For information or to schedule an appointment, contact Pershing Health System — providing safe, high-quality care close to home.
