Jump to Main Content
[RadCCORE Wiki Home Page :: Definitions :: This page]  

effective dose

'''Effective dose''' is a measure used in radiation protection to estimate the risk resulting from an exposure of ionizing radiation. '''Effective dose n''' is the amount of radiation required to produce a certain effect in n% of a population. '''Effective dose equivalent''' is used to compare radiation doses on different body parts on an equivalent basis because radiation does not affect different parts in the same way. The effective dose (H) to an individual is found by calculating a weighted average of the Equivalent dose (E) to different body tissues, with the weighting factors (W) designed to reflect the different radiosensitivities of the tissues:

H = ∑i Ei Wi

Effective dose is used as a measure of the likelihood of stochastic effects of radiation exposure: carcinogenesis and hereditary effects. It is not intended as a measure for acute or threshold effects of radiation exposure such as erythema, radiation sickness or death.

The unit for effective dose is the sievert (Sv).

Last modified: 13.09.07 by jross  
©2006, Duke University Health System   DHTS Web Services DHTS Web Services