Author: Mary Kloser
Taylor Swift is undeniably a jet-setter, frequently crisscrossing the world by plane for concerts, events, and appearances. Her busy travel schedule might have some wondering about regular radiation exposure from all of those flights. But Swift clearly isn’t concerned — she continues logging an incredible amount of flight miles year after year.
Let’s take a closer look at just how much radiation Swift received in 2022.
Just how frequent is Swift’s flying? According to Harper’s Bazaar, the pop icon logged approximately 23,630 air miles in just the first 7 months of 2022. Projecting for the full year, that comes out to roughly 47,260 miles. To estimate associated radiation doses, we can turn to CDC data. They estimate a cross-country trip from NYC to LA exposes flyers to 0.035 mSv of radiation over the 2,445 mile trip. Doing a bit of math, Swift likely received up to around 0.68 mSv of radiation in 2022 from her extensive flights alone.
The Math
2445 miles to receive .035mSv = 0.000014315 mSv/mile
0.000014315 mSv/mile x 47260 miles = .68 mSv
Though 2022 flight data is available, Swift’s 2023 mileage is likely even higher due to her ongoing Eras tour events around the world. However, specifics on her current jet-setting schedule are harder to pin down. With multiple international concerts, Swift is almost certainly logging more hours in airplane cabins in 2023. But her precise flight itinerary for the 2023 year remains behind the curtain for now.
To put Swift’s flight radiation into context, we can compare it to the average American’s exposure. Data shows the typical American took 1.4 flights in 2021, with an average distance of 502 miles per flight (according to 2020 Statista data).
Over a year, that results in about 0.01 mSv of radiation exposure for the average American flyer. Swift meanwhile racks up around 0.68 mSv just in 2022 alone — a full 68X more radiation than the average US air traveler’s annual dose.
The Math
1.4 flights x 502 miles = 702.8 miles total
x/702.8 = .035/2445
x= .01 mSv
Now let’s compare that data to what it’s like living within 50 miles of a nuclear plant. The NRC estimates Americans living within 50 miles of a plant receive an average of only 0.0001 mSv of extra background radiation exposure per year. That’s less radiation than the average American receives from flying in a year- and 6,800x less radiation than what Taylor receives from all her flights! The radiation for nearby nuclear plant neighbors is dwarfed by the radiation Swift logs.
This stark contrast offers a different perspective on radiation. Instead of fear, it prompts us to consider the varied sources of exposure in our lives and the relative impact they have. Taylor Swift’s travel habits shed light on this dynamic and encourage us to view radiation in a more nuanced way. It would be great if Swift helped fund some nuclear plants in the US to help offset her carbon emissions and to help power a brighter future for all of the swifties worldwide.
Check out our TikTok video all about this!
