doserate

Dose rate is the rate at which ionizing radiation deposits energy in matter per unit time. In radiological contexts it is commonly expressed as absorbed dose rate in grays per hour (Gy/h). When biological effects are considered, equivalent or effective dose rates are sometimes given in sieverts per hour (Sv/h). Dose rate is a rate; the total dose is the integral of dose rate over time and represents cumulative exposure.

Dose rate is measured with instruments such as ionization chambers, Geiger-Müller (GM) detectors, scintillation detectors, and dosimetry badges. In field surveys, portable survey meters report ambient dose rate in units such as Sv/h or Gy/h or their submultiples. Personal dosimeters accumulate dose over a monitoring period to track exposure.

In medical imaging and radiotherapy, dose-rate information helps optimize image quality and protect patients and staff. In nuclear facilities and environmental monitoring, dose-rate data are used to assess shielding performance and external exposure. Natural background radiation contributes a persistent low dose rate that varies by location.

Higher dose rates can deliver harmful biological effects more quickly, while extended exposure to lower dose rates can also increase risk depending on total dose and radiosensitivity. Radiation protection practices aim to minimize dose rate where possible by shielding, maintaining distance, and reducing exposure time.

Units and relationships: 1 gray (Gy) is the deposition of 1 joule of energy per kilogram of matter. 1 sievert (Sv) is a dose with a weighting factor to reflect biological effect; for a given tissue and radiation type, 1 Sv ≈ 1 Gy in terms of absorbed dose, though the weighting factors differ by radiation quality and tissue.