How to Use the Radiation Dose Converter
Enter a dose value and select a unit. All five units — Sv, mSv, μSv, rem, mrem — are shown instantly. A comparison table below puts your value in context against common everyday exposures.
Unit Overview
Sv (sievert): SI unit for equivalent dose — radiation dose weighted for biological effect. Daily exposures are typically in mSv or μSv range.
mSv (millisievert): 1/1,000 Sv. Standard unit for medical radiation and regulatory limits. Annual background ≈ 2.4 mSv.
μSv (microsievert): 1/1,000 mSv. Used by personal dosimeters and radiation monitors.
rem / mrem: Older US units. 1 rem = 0.01 Sv = 10 mSv. Still used in some US medical contexts. 1 mrem = 0.01 mSv.
FAQ
An abdominal CT delivers about 10 mSv — roughly 4× the annual background radiation. A chest CT is about 7 mSv. Medical benefit typically justifies the exposure when ordered by a physician.
A transatlantic flight exposes you to about 0.05–0.1 mSv — comparable to one chest X-ray. Frequent flyers and flight crew accumulate higher annual doses from cosmic radiation at altitude.