Säteilyarvo

Säteilyarvo is a Finnish term used to describe the level or amount of ionizing radiation present in a given environment or emitted by a source. The expression is generic and can refer to different quantities, depending on context, such as exposure in air, absorbed dose in matter, dose equivalent, or dose rate. In practical use, säteilyarvo is often encountered as a dose rate (for example in units like μSv/h or mSv/h) or as an accumulated dose over a certain period (such as mSv).

Measuring säteilyarvo involves instruments used in radiation protection. Ambient radiation levels are assessed with survey meters and ionization chambers, while personal exposure is tracked with dosimeters and pocket devices. Common dosimetry quantities include absorbed dose (gray, Gy), equivalent dose and effective dose (sievert, Sv), and related rate expressions (Gy/h or Sv/h). These measurements support risk assessment, shielding design, work planning, and regulatory compliance.

In Finland and many other countries, authorities such as the radiation safety agency oversee the interpretation and limits of radiation exposure. While säteilyarvo provides a practical sense of current radiation levels, precise regulatory work relies on standardized quantities and units, specific measurement conditions, and the context of exposure duration. The term is thus a broad label used in safety discussions, public information, and on-site monitoring, rather than a single technical dosimetric value.

See also: radiation protection, dosimetry, exposure, dose, dose rate, STUK.