Dózisekvivalens

Dózisekvivalens refers to the concept of comparing the biological effects of different radiation sources or types by relating their absorbed doses to a common standard. It is particularly important in radiation protection and medical physics. When dealing with different types of ionizing radiation, such as alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, or neutrons, their biological effectiveness can vary significantly even if they deliver the same absorbed dose (measured in Grays, Gy). This is because different types of radiation cause different amounts and patterns of ionization within biological tissues.

To account for these differences, the concept of a radiation weighting factor (wR) is introduced. This factor represents the relative biological effectiveness of a particular type of radiation compared to a reference radiation, typically gamma rays. The equivalent dose (H) is then calculated by multiplying the absorbed dose (D) by the radiation weighting factor: H = D * wR. The unit for equivalent dose is the Sievert (Sv). Therefore, a dózisekvivalens allows for a more accurate assessment of the potential health risks associated with different radiation exposures. For example, a low-energy neutron might have a higher wR than a gamma ray, meaning that a given absorbed dose of neutrons would result in a higher equivalent dose and thus a higher estimated risk.