Equivalent dose

Changed by Ayush Goel, 14 Jun 2014

Updates to Article Attributes

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The equivalent dose (HT) is a measure of the radiation dose to tissue where an attempt has been made to allow for the different relative biological effects of different types of ionizing radiation. In quantitative terms, equivalent dose is less fundamental than absorbed dose, but it is more biologically significant. Equivalent dose has SI units of sieverts but rem (roentgen equivalent in man) is used commonly. (1SV = 100REM)

Equivalent dose (HT) is calculated by multiplying the absorbed dose to the organ or tissue (DT) with the radiation weighting factor, wR. This factor is dependant on the type and energy of the incident radiation. The value of wR is 1 for x-rays, gamma rays and beta particles, but higher for protons, neutrons, alpha particles etc.

Permissible dose

  • occupational exposure : 20mSV/year
  • lens of eye : 150mSV/year
  • skin : 500mSV/year
  • hands and feet : 500mSV/year
  • fetus (during entire pregnancy) : 2mSV/year
  • -<li>occupational exposure : 20mSV/year</li>
  • -<li>lens of eye : 150mSV/year</li>
  • -<li>skin : 500mSV/year</li>
  • -<li>hands and feet : 500mSV/year</li>
  • -<li>fetus (during entire pregnancy) : 2mSV/year</li>
  • +<li>occupational exposure : 20mSV/year</li>
  • +<li>lens of eye : 150mSV/year</li>
  • +<li>skin : 500mSV/year</li>
  • +<li>hands and feet : 500mSV/year</li>
  • +<li>fetus (during entire pregnancy) : 2mSV/year</li>

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