UNITS FOR MEASURING

RADIATION

Learning objective:

At the end of this session, student should be

able to:
- explain the quantity involved in ionizing
radiation
- define and state the value of the annual dose
limit involved.
- apply the unit conversion

Several forms of ionizing radiation are used in medical

imaging.

Even though the risk is low, or if there is a risk at all, it is

appropriate to manage the radiation delivered to patients
being imaged and to use only sufficient radiation to
produce the necessary image quality.

How much radiation is delivered to

a patient's body?

Physical
Quantity

SI Unit

Non-SI Unit

Activity

Becquerel
(Bq)

Curie (Ci)

Exposure

Coulomb per
kg (C/kg)

Absorbed
Dose

Gray (Gy)

Rad (rad)

1 rad = 0.01 Gy
1 Gy = 100 rad

Dose
Equivalent

Sievert (Sv)

Rem (rem)

1 rem = 0.01 Sv
1 Sv = 100 rem

Sievert (Sv)

Rem (rem)

1 rem = 0.01 Sv
1 Sv = 100 rem

Effective
Dose

Relationship
1Ci = 3.7 x 1010
Bq

Roentgen (R) 1R = 2.58 x 10-4

C/kg

Activity (Bq)
Rate of decay.
no of atoms that decay and emit radiation in one
second.

Exposure (C/kg)
ionization produced in air by photons per unit mass.
Radiation quantity that expresses the concentration
of
radiation delivered to a specific point, such as the
surface of the human body
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Absorbed dose (Gy)

energy imparted by ionizing radiation per unit
mass of irradiated material.
This is the quantity that is most directly related to
biological effects.

Equivalent dose (Sv)

the product of the absorbed dose and effective
quality
factor (Q)
equivalent dose = absorbed dose x Q
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Type of ionising radiation

X-rays or gamma rays
Electrons or beta-particles
Thermal neutrons
Fast neutrons (or neutrons of unknown
energy)
Protons
Alpha-particles
Recoil nuclei (eg. In alpha-decay)
Fission fragment

Quality factor
(Q)
1
1
2.3
10
10
20
20
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Effective dose-equivalent (Sv)

the sum of the weighted dose-equivalent of all
organs
or tissues of interest.
It is used to compare radiation doses on different
body
parts on an equivalent basis because radiation
does
not affect different parts in the same way

 The effective dose (H) to an individual is found by

calculating a weighted average of the
equivalent dose (E) to different body tissues, with
the weighting factors (W) designed to reflect the
different radiosensitivities of the tissues:
H = i Ei Wi

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DOSE LIMIT

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ANNUAL DOSE LIMIT

Annual dose the dose received over a period of 1

calendar year.
Annual dose limit the value of the annual dose
that must not be exceeded.
Every licensee shall ensure that no worker or
member of the public receives exposure exceeding
the annual dose limits.
The annual dose limits shall not apply to medical
exposure or exposure due to natural background
radiation.

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DOSE LIMIT IN OCCUPATIONAL

EXPOSURE

Effective dose limit (had dose berkesan) for whole

body radiation
20 mSv per calendar year
averaged over a defined periods of 5 years, and
with the provision that the effective dose shall not
exceed 50 mSv in any single year.
Additional restriction (pengehadan) applies to the
occupational exposure for pregnant women.

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Occupational dose limit

Limit on equivalent dose:

Eye 150 mSv

Skin 500 mSv

Hand & feet 500 mSv

In a calendar
year
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Dose limits are similar for men and women,

except for pregnant women.
=

When a female worker is confirmed to be

pregnant the foetus shall, from the date of
confirmation, be afforded the level of protection
so that the dose to the foetus shall not exceed 1
mSv for the remaining period of the pregnancy.

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DOSE LIMIT FOR MEMBERS OF THE

PUBLIC

There are dose limits allowed for members of the public. BSS
regulation recommend 1 mSv per year.

Effective dose limit for whole body

exposure

1 mSv

Equivalent effective dose limit for

the lens shall not exceed

15 mSv

Average equivalent effective

dose limit to the skin
(averaged over any 1 cm2)

50 mSv

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Effective dose limit for a person

who knowingly assists in the
support of a patient during the
period of diagnostic examination or
treatment of the patient.

<5 mSv

Effective dose limit for a person

below the age of 16 years
visiting patient undergoing
treatment or diagnostic
examination involving radioactive
material during the period of the
treatment or examination of the
patient.

< 1 mSv

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PLANNED SPECIAL EXPOSURE

Also known as dose limit in special circumstances

(keadaan).

Means voluntary (sukarela) exposure during

normal operation whereby 1 or more of the
annual dose limits for a worker are likely to be
exceeded, permitted (dibenarkan) only in
situations when alternative techniques which do
not involve normal exposure cannot be used.

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Shall only carried out when approved by the

appropriate authorities (AELB @ Ministry of
Health of Malaysia).

The dose received over a period of 1 calendar

year does not exceed twice the annual dose
limits, and in a lifetime, five times those limits.

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In choosing volunteers, the following shall be

taken into account: Previous experience;
State of health;
Special skill;
Social and economic responsibilities.

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Person who is forbidden to participate in planned special

exposure:

If during the previous 12 months, such worker has

received an exposure giving rise to the annual dose limit
(whole body and partial body exposures).

If such worker has previously received accidental or

emergency exposures which exceeds 5 times the annual
dose limit (whole body and partial body exposures).

If such worker is a female of reproductive capacity.

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ANNUAL LIMIT ON INTAKE (ALI)

The derived limit for the amount of radioactive

material taken into the body of an adult worker by
inhalation or ingestion in a year.

Ways of intake oral (ingestion), inhalation,

injection or skin absorption

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The ALI of any radionuclide depends on all of the

following factors:
- The type of radiation emitted.
- Energy of the radiation and that of any
radioactive progeny.
- The selective deposition in specific body tissue.
- The effective half-life.

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