What is the highest safe dose of radiation that is 100% guaranteed not to cause any negative health issues?

The choice of 0 mSv is recognized as the highest safe dose of radiation that is deemed 100% guaranteed not to cause any negative health issues. This is based on the principle that any exposure to radiation carries a certain level of risk for potential health effects, including cancer.

In radiological health, the deterministic effects of radiation, such as skin burns or radiation sickness, are typically associated with higher doses, while stochastic effects, such as the potential development of cancer, can occur at any level of exposure, no matter how small. Thus, to eliminate all risk, the safest level of exposure is absolutely none—0 mSv. This emphasizes the importance of minimizing radiation exposure in medical imaging and dental radiography.

This choice aligns with guidelines from health organizations that recommend as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles to manage radiation exposure. Although low doses like 1 mSv, 10 mSv, and 100 mSv are typically considered safe for certain medical procedures, they cannot guarantee zero risk, which is why 0 mSv is the only option that provides a 100% assurance against negative health outcomes.