Radioactivity Converter
Convert between becquerel, curie, gray, sievert, and more
Conversion Formula:
Multiply by 1.000000e-6
Common Activity Conversions
Radiation Facts
- Natural background radiation exposure is typically 2-3 millisieverts (mSv) per year for most people.
- A single chest X-ray exposes a person to about 0.1 mSv, equivalent to 10 days of natural background radiation.
- A banana contains about 15 becquerels (Bq) of radioactivity due to naturally occurring potassium-40.
- The human body naturally contains about 4,000-5,000 Bq of radioactivity, mostly from potassium-40.
- A smoke detector contains americium-241 with an activity of approximately 30,000 Bq (0.8 μCi).
Radiation Safety
Radiation safety is based on three key principles: time, distance, and shielding. Minimize time near sources, maximize distance, and use appropriate shielding materials.
- General public: 1 mSv per year (excluding medical exposures and background)
- Radiation workers: 20 mSv per year (averaged over 5 years)
- Pregnant radiation workers: 1 mSv to the fetus during pregnancy
- 0-250 mSv: No detectable symptoms
- 250-1,000 mSv: Possible blood changes, but no serious effects
- 1,000-3,000 mSv: Mild radiation sickness (nausea, immune suppression)
- 3,000-6,000 mSv: Severe radiation sickness, possible death without treatment
- 6,000+ mSv: Fatal in most cases
History of Radiation Units
The becquerel (Bq) was named after Henri Becquerel, who discovered radioactivity in 1896 when he observed uranium salts blackening a photographic plate.
The curie (Ci) was named after Marie and Pierre Curie, who discovered radium and polonium, and further developed the concept of radioactivity.
The sievert (Sv) was named after Rolf Sievert, a Swedish medical physicist who made significant contributions to radiation dosimetry and radiation protection.
The gray (Gy) was named after Louis Harold Gray, a British physicist who worked on the biological effects of radiation and developed the field of radiobiology.
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Radioactivity Visualized
1000 bq
1.00 kBq
Similar to: Human body (4,000 Bq)
Mostly from natural potassium-40
0.00100 mbq
1.00 kBq
Similar to: Human body (4,000 Bq)
Mostly from natural potassium-40
Common Radioactive Sources
About the Radioactivity Converter
Convert between becquerel, curie, gray, sievert, and more All conversions run instantly in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to a server.
Common Conversion Formulas
| From | To | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Becquerel (Bq) | Curie (Ci) | Ci = Bq × 2.7027 × 10⁻¹¹ |
| Gray (Gy) | Rad (rad) | rad = Gy × 100 |
| Sievert (Sv) | Rem (rem) | rem = Sv × 100 |