The idea that smoking one cigarette is equivalent to the cosmic radiation exposure during air travel is a comparison often mentioned but requires careful unpacking to understand its accuracy and meaning. While both smoking and cosmic radiation involve exposure to…
The amount of radiation you get from smoking cigarettes compared to the background radiation you receive naturally in one year can be surprisingly compared by looking at the radioactive substances in tobacco and the radiation we are exposed to daily…
Vaping does not expose you to radiation in the way that traditional cigarettes do. Unlike cigarettes, which involve burning tobacco and releasing radioactive elements naturally present in the tobacco leaves, e-cigarettes work by heating a liquid (often called e-liquid or…
The radiation exposure from smoking is generally higher and more directly harmful than the radiation one might receive from eating seafood containing mercury, though the two risks involve very different types of hazards. Smoking tobacco exposes the lungs to radioactive…
When comparing the amount of radiation in smoking marijuana versus tobacco, it is important to clarify what kind of radiation is being discussed. Typically, the concern about “radiation” in smoking relates to radioactive elements naturally present in the plants or…
Smoking a cigar generally does not give off more radiation than smoking cigarettes, but both cigars and cigarettes expose smokers to low levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials present in tobacco. The difference in radiation exposure between cigars and cigarettes…
The idea that smoking and eating bananas expose you to similar levels of radiation is a popular comparison, but it requires careful explanation to understand what this really means. Both tobacco smoke and bananas contain naturally occurring radioactive elements, but…
Flying across the Atlantic exposes passengers to increased levels of cosmic radiation compared to being on the ground, due to the thinner atmosphere at cruising altitudes allowing more high-energy particles from space to reach the body. This radiation dose is…
Secondhand smoke and living near a nuclear plant are two very different types of environmental exposures, and comparing them directly requires understanding the nature of the risks involved in each. Secondhand smoke is a complex chemical mixture produced by burning…
Smoking exposes the body to a significant amount of radiation, primarily from radioactive substances naturally present in tobacco leaves, while radon exposure at home involves inhaling radioactive gas that seeps from the ground. Comparing the two, smoking generally delivers a…