Background radiation equivalent time small area in India as high as 30 mSv (3 rem). Using the 2.4 mSv value each BRET unit equals 6.6 μSv. BRET values for diagnostic radiography procedures range from 2 BRET for a dental x-ray to around 400 for a barium enema study. Background radiation equivalent time Background Radiation Equivalent Time, or BRET, is a unit of measurement of ionizing radiation dosage. One BRET is the equivalent of one day worth of average human exposure to background radiation. The unit is also referred to as BERT (Background Equivalent Radiation Time). BRET units are used as a measure of low
Radiation hormesis Radiation hormesis Radiation hormesis is the hypothesis that low doses of ionizing radiation (within the region of and just above natural background levels) are beneficial, stimulating the activation of repair mechanisms that protect against disease, that are not activated in absence of ionizing radiation (similar to vaccinations). The reserve repair mechanisms are hypothesized to be sufficiently effective when stimulated as to not only cancel the detrimental effects of ionizing radiation but also inhibit disease not related to radiation exposure (see hormesis). This hypothesis has captured the attention of scientists and public alike in recent years. While the effects of high