Kokonaissäteilyannos

Kokonaissäteilyannos, often abbreviated as TED (Total Effective Dose Equivalent), is a dosimetric quantity used in radiation protection to estimate the risk of stochastic health effects, such as cancer, from exposure to ionizing radiation. It represents the sum of the equivalent doses to all tissues and organs in the body, weighted by tissue-specific risk factors. The concept of effective dose was introduced to provide a single, comprehensive measure of detriment that accounts for the varying sensitivity of different organs to radiation.

The calculation of effective dose involves measuring or estimating the equivalent dose received by each organ or tissue. The equivalent dose (HT) is the absorbed dose (DT) in a tissue or organ multiplied by the radiation weighting factor (wR), which accounts for the biological effectiveness of different types of radiation. HT = wR * DT. Subsequently, the effective dose (E) is calculated by summing the equivalent doses to all tissues and organs, each multiplied by a corresponding tissue weighting factor (wT). These tissue weighting factors represent the relative contribution of each organ or tissue to the total detriment from stochastic effects. The formula is E = Σ (wT * HT).

Effective dose is typically expressed in units of Sievert (Sv) or millisievert (mSv). It is a calculated quantity, not a directly measured one, and is used for regulatory purposes, setting dose limits for workers and the public, and for assessing the radiation risks associated with medical procedures or environmental exposures. While effective dose provides a valuable tool for radiation protection, it's important to understand its basis in risk estimation and its limitations in describing the precise biological impact of a specific exposure.