Everest climbers at 5 times higher radiation risk than nuclear plant workers

Researchers have suggested that climbers tackling Mt. Everest receive a radiation dose that is five times more than the average annual exposure of a UK nuclear power worker.

Scottish mountain climber Bob Kerr assimilated cosmic radiation readings on an expedition to Everest in May last year, the BBC reported.

Kerr, who works as a radiation protection adviser, said that the exposure level carried one in 10,000 risk of developing a fatal cancer some time in later life.

The findings have been published by the Society for Radiological Protection.