Ryanair Flight & Exposure to In-flight Cosmic Radiation on GammaRAE monitor

[don11hur]

good old radiation eh? nothin like it :P does sfa though! my grand uncle spent 30 years in the RAF flew in ww2 aswell and neither gamma radiation or nutters in fighter planes have killed him and hes well in his 80s :D its true there is radiation but its not exactly lethal. Interesting fact though. Concorde used to have to keep a log of the amount of radiation it was exposed to as any flight over 60,000ft must keep one

[RadRadiation]

For an airplane ride, these numbers are strangely low as if the instrument is broken. I believe many people measure 100-200 on this class of instrument. 15 is normal background radiation for billions of people in the world. Nearly the entire US has background ranging from 6-20, with my area being 12-15. I would take the GammaRae up on another plane trip - you should be getting >50 and possibly over 100. There is definitely an increase in radiation in an plane, but it's not shown in this video.

[AndrewKFletcher]

@RadRadiation Mine only measures gamma radiation and possibly xray radiation, so gives a much lower reading than the newer versions of the same monitor. Gamma radiation is thought to be measured after particles collide and release it.

[RadRadiation]

@AndrewKFletcher The readings are equivalent actually. The GammaRAE is a PM1703M manufactured under license. The ones that also measure neutrons will do so with a separate reading.

[TheDelorious]

thats crazy, I knew about there being computer simulation systems to estimate radiation exposure, but i didn't know there were actual instruments that measure radiation levels.....is this the only one or are there more???

[AndrewKFletcher]

@TheDelorious @TheDelorious There are many that can measure different types of radiation, some can measure alpha beta and gamma. My advice is to get something that you don't need a full english breakfast to carry it around with you. The newer version of the radiation pager is pretty useful but costs a lot more. Some Russian pocket detectors are pretty cool and cost nothing on Fleebay.

[abus777]

Yip, I'd except to be turning green at some stage soon if i were you.... Stop the madness please...

[AndrewKFletcher]

@abus777 Maybe you could wear a suit of lead on the aircrafts? Mind you it could up your baggage costs a little :)

[Jerraph]

One of my clients at work is a rich business guy who flies long distance at least every week. Maybe 6 times a month. Seriously, he must be so irradiated!

[AndrewKFletcher]

This monitor used picks up gamma radiation

There are a number of different forms of radiation hitting the monitor but not registering. Would be great if someone took an alpha and beta monitor up, pretty sure it will show lots of activity.

[AndrewKFletcher]

It is a definate risk and like I have said previously during solar flares the radiation levels increase hugely.

[AndrewKFletcher]

You can't see it smell it hear it or touch it but radiation is there sitting right next to you on flights.

My monitor does not pick up alpha and gamma, these are also in abundance during flights at altitude.

[hellzone100]

@Jerraph has he been sick ?? you must find this out !!!

[TheDelorious]

@Jerraph thats crazy, does your client even know much about radiation then??

[Jerraph]

@TheDelorious Dunno. He seems ok to me. But seriously - he spends most of his working life on planes (much like cabin crew).

[Jerraph]

Fascinating stuff. I guessed you'd be exposed to some radiation up in the sky, but good to actually see it measured. Scary!

I'm looking at buying a G counter. Any suggestions? Are the ones at 'anythingradioactive' any good?

[AndrewKFletcher]

Got mine off fleebay and had a great deal on it. New cost around £1200 and was the type used by goverments.

Enjoy walks even more now especially when the alarm goes off :)

The bulky older geiger counters are not much use but the pocket versions are very entertaining and can be used anywhere.

Not sure about anythingradioactive so can't help there.

[geekforlifevandc]

not that scarry unless you travel like every day you have nothing to worry about most of us such as myself go on a plane around 1 every 3-5 years

[AndrewKFletcher]

@geekforlifevandc I agree, this is more of a risk for people who fly regularly. It was interesting to see the monitor recording the increased radiation with altitude which is why I thought about sharing it with everyone on Youtube.

[AndrewKFletcher]

Not a suggestion available sorry.

Just showing the radiation registering on a gamma radiation detector because I found it fascinating. Sorry to disappoint you but thanks for the comment and for viewing my video.

[John27346]

This guy is a typical health neurotic. It's a dangerous world. Get over it. Do you want to ban commercial flight or what is your suggestion?

[AndrewKFletcher]

Just learned I am to be a grandad soon. But also learned my Son's partner has been advised not to fly for 4 months while carrying her baby.

Interesting :)

[k3456789]

friend of mine gave birth to an abnormal baby after 10 hour flight

[AndrewKFletcher]

When was the flight in pregnancy term?

There are flights that take place during solar flares, that can seriously up our exposure to cosmic radiation, if this happened as a result of such a solar flare it could be checked against the time and date of the flight against solar flare occurrences.

[AndrewKFletcher]

Preliminary research indicates that passengers and crews are being exposed to more radiation than previously thought, especially during significant solar events. Mertens analyzed data from a strong solar storm around Halloween 2003 and found that passengers on polar flights for example from Chicago to Beijing were exposed to radiation higher than the limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

[AndrewKFletcher]

It's worth remembering that Gamma Particles are a very small part of the radiation we are exposed to during long and short flights at normal commercial flight altitude around 37,000 feet.

[AndrewKFletcher]

No I didnt, Thanks for the mention of this. Do you have a link to the literature or article? I do know it greatly increases the risk of birth defects in babies while in the womb and exposed to regular flights. Also the high risk of cancer among pilots and crew. Low level orbit on the space station increases the exposure considerably also to astronauts. Space suits and spacecrafts are unable to shield occupants from the incoming radiation.

[Furnzo2007]

Did you know that cabin crew and Pilot ages very quickly due to this radiation. It ages your organs.