microsievert

Microsievert is a unit of measurement for ionizing radiation dose. It is a derived unit in the International System of Units (SI). The symbol for microsievert is μSv. One microsievert is equal to one millionth of a sievert. The sievert (Sv) is the SI derived unit of equivalent dose and dose equivalent, used to measure the biological effect of different types of ionizing radiation on living tissue. Different types of radiation have different biological effectiveness, so the sievert accounts for this.

The microsievert is a very small unit, often used to describe typical doses of radiation received from natural background sources or from medical procedures. For example, the average annual dose from natural background radiation varies globally but is often in the range of a few thousand microsieverts. A chest X-ray typically delivers a dose of tens of microsieverts, while a CT scan can deliver hundreds or even thousands of microsieverts. Understanding radiation doses in microsieverts helps in assessing risks and comparing different sources of exposure in a standardized way.