Dózisegyenérték

Dózisegyenérték, often translated as dose equivalent, is a concept used in radiation protection to quantify the biological risk associated with exposure to different types of ionizing radiation. It aims to provide a common unit for comparing the potential harm of radiation doses, regardless of whether the radiation is alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, or neutrons. This is important because different types of radiation cause different amounts of biological damage for the same absorbed energy.

The absorbed dose, measured in Grays (Gy), represents the energy deposited per unit mass of tissue. However, this alone doesn't fully account for the varying biological effectiveness of different radiation types. To address this, the dose equivalent is calculated by multiplying the absorbed dose by a radiation weighting factor (wR). This factor is empirically determined and reflects the relative biological effectiveness of a particular type of radiation. For example, alpha particles have a higher wR than gamma rays, indicating they are more damaging at the cellular level for the same absorbed dose.

The unit of dose equivalent is the Sievert (Sv). A Sievert represents the dose equivalent for a specific type of radiation that causes the same biological risk as one Gray of gamma radiation. Therefore, dose equivalent allows for a more accurate assessment of radiation risk and aids in setting appropriate radiation protection limits. It is a crucial metric for ensuring the safety of individuals exposed to radiation in medical, industrial, and research settings.