Practice Problem 10

Calculate the rems of radiation absorbed by the average person from the ¹⁴C in his or her body.  Assume the activity of the ¹⁴C in the average body is 0.08 mCi, the energy of the b-particles emitted when ¹⁴C decays is 0.156 MeV, and about one-third of this energy is captured by the body.

Answer

0.001 rems, or 1 millirem per year.