Radiation Protection Glossary

Equivalent Dose (can be refererd to as Dose Equivalent ) is a quantity which takes into effect 'radiation quality', which relates to the degree to which a type of Ionising Radiation will produce biological damage. Equivalent Dose is obtained by multiplying the Absorbed Dose by a Radiation Weighting Factor or Quality Factor if Dose Equivalent is used . The resulting quantity can then be expressed numerically in Sieverts (Sv) or in the old units of Rem . The quantity is independent of the absorbing material (i.e. tissue).