The 'effective dose' in radiation protection is measured in sieverts (Sv) and accounts for:
- A Energy deposited per kilogram of tissue (absorbed dose) alone
- B Absorbed dose weighted by radiation weighting factor (type of radiation) and tissue weighting factor (radio-sensitivity of organs) ✓
- C Surface contamination of skin and clothing only
- D Cumulative dose over a lifetime without weighting
Explanation
Effective dose (E) = sum over all tissues of [absorbed dose (D) × radiation weighting factor (W_R) × tissue weighting factor (W_T)]. W_R accounts for biological effectiveness of the radiation type (X-rays W_R=1, alpha particles W_R=20); W_T accounts for sensitivity of different organs (gonads, red bone marrow have highest W_T). Effective dose allows comparison of risk from partial-body irradiation against whole-body standards.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.