Ages 12-13: Educational Resources
Radiation
Every day, you are exposed to radiation from various sources, both natural and human made.
About 60% of radiation comes from nature. The sun, naturally occurring radioactive elements and radon, a radioactive gas present in the air we breathe, are the main sources.
Foods and drinks are other sources of radiation. For instance, bananas contain potassium-40, a radioactive substance present in nature.
Canadians are also exposed to man-made radiation throughout their lives, mainly from medical procedures like X-rays and cancer treatments.
Figure: Sources of radiation exposure for an average adult in Canada
In the pie chart, nuclear power plants are included in the 0.6% “Other man-made sources”, as they release very little radiation.