7.5.3 Average dose of radiation

The dose of radiation received varies significantly between individuals and communities, and depends on locality, lifestyle, diet and type of dwelling. The global average for the individual dose of radiation from natural sources has been estimated to be 2.4 mSv/year (UNSCEAR 2000). Australian data suggest that the average annual dose in this country may be slightly lower, at approximately 2 mSv/year. Of this annual dose, less than 10 per cent comes from ingestion of food and drinking water containing radionuclides from the natural uranium and thorium series (Webb et al. 1999).