Vaikutusannos

Vaikutusannos, also known as the effective dose, is a measure used in radiation protection to quantify the health risk posed by exposure to ionizing radiation. It is calculated by multiplying the absorbed dose, which measures the amount of energy deposited in a material by ionizing radiation, by a dimensionless quality factor that accounts for the type and energy of the radiation. The quality factor is higher for more biologically damaging types of radiation, such as alpha particles, and lower for less damaging types, such as gamma rays. The unit of effective dose is the sievert (Sv), which is equivalent to a joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of tissue. The effective dose takes into account the relative biological effectiveness of different types of radiation and the radiosensitivity of different organs and tissues. It is used to estimate the probability of stochastic effects, such as cancer, from radiation exposure. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) provides guidelines for setting limits on effective dose to protect individuals from the harmful effects of radiation.