logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Was the radiation exposure from the Three Mile Island nuclear accident equivalent to that from a chest X-ray?

By Ashley Freeman
YES

Multiple studies estimated that anyone living within ten miles of Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, the site of a partial reactor meltdown in 1979, was exposed to a radiation dose that was less than that of a chest X-ray.

A chest X-ray delivers approximately 0.1 millisieverts of radiation. The typical person is exposed to about that much radiation every ten days in normal life.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported that it, along with three other federal agencies, the state of Pennsylvania and several independent groups, studied the accident. Exposure was estimated at around 0.08 millisieverts or less. Other types of X-rays deliver greater doses of radiation—a spine X-ray delivers 1.5 mSv. "The actual release had negligible effects on the physical health of individuals or the environment," the NRC concludes.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email