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Sievert: Quantifying Radiation's Biological Impact

An exploration of the Sievert (Sv), the SI unit designed to represent the stochastic health risk associated with ionizing radiation exposure.

What is a Sievert? ๐Ÿ‘‡ See Dose Examples ๐Ÿ“Š

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Introduction to the Sievert

A Measure of Risk

The sievert (symbol: Sv) is a derived unit within the International System of Units (SI). Its primary purpose is to quantify the stochastic health risk posed by ionizing radiation. This risk is understood as the probability of developing radiation-induced cancer and genetic damage.[note 1] It is a fundamental unit in the fields of dosimetry and radiation protection, named in honor of Rolf Maximilian Sievert, a Swedish medical physicist recognized for his pioneering work in radiation dose measurement and research into its biological effects.

Purpose in Protection

The sievert is crucial for measuring radiation dose quantities such as equivalent dose and effective dose. These quantities are used to assess the potential biological harm from both external radiation sources (from outside the body) and internal irradiation (from inhaled or ingested radioactive substances, known as committed dose). The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) posits that one sievert of exposure, under the linear no-threshold model, corresponds to a 5.5% probability of eventually developing fatal cancer.[1][2]

Relating Physical Dose to Biological Effect

To accurately represent the biological impact of radiation, the physical quantity known as absorbed dose (measured in grays) is modified. This modification involves applying specific weighting factors that account for the type of radiation and the biological context. The sievert, therefore, represents the equivalent biological effect of deposited radiation energy, distinguishing it from the gray, which solely measures the energy deposited per unit mass.

Defining the Sievert

CIPM Definition

The International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) defines the sievert in relation to dose equivalent (H). It is calculated as the product of the absorbed dose (D) and a dimensionless quality factor (Q), which itself is a function of the radiation's linear energy transfer (LET), as specified by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU).

H = Q ร— D

The CIPM emphasizes using the distinct names "gray" for absorbed dose and "sievert" for dose equivalent to prevent confusion, as both are dimensionally equivalent to joules per kilogram but represent different conceptsโ€”physical energy deposition versus biological effect.

ICRP Definition

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) defines the sievert as the SI unit for equivalent dose, effective dose, and operational dose quantities. It is fundamentally expressed as joules per kilogram. The ICRP's system involves two key weighting factors:

  • Radiation Weighting Factor (WR): Accounts for the differing biological effectiveness of various radiation types (e.g., alpha particles vs. X-rays).
  • Tissue Weighting Factor (WT): Accounts for the varying sensitivity of different human tissues and organs to radiation-induced damage.

These factors are applied to the absorbed dose (in grays) to derive the equivalent dose and, subsequently, the effective dose, providing a comprehensive measure of overall stochastic health risk.

Dose Quantities & Measurement

Physical Quantities

These are directly measurable physical quantities, independent of biological effects. They include:

  • Radiation Fluence: The number of radiation particles per unit area per unit time.
  • Kerma: The kinetic energy transferred from radiation to charged particles per unit mass of a material (often air), used for instrument calibration.
  • Absorbed Dose: The amount of radiation energy deposited per unit mass of matter or tissue, measured in grays (Gy).

Operational Quantities

Used for practical radiation monitoring and control, these quantities estimate or provide an upper limit for protection quantities. They are measured using dosimeters and instruments calibrated against national standards.

  • Ambient Dose Equivalent (H*(10)): For penetrating radiation (like gamma rays), measured at a depth of 10 mm in the ICRU sphere phantom.
  • Directional Dose Equivalent (H'(0.07)): For low-penetrating radiation (like beta particles), measured at a depth of 0.07 mm in the ICRU sphere phantom, relevant for skin and eye lens dose.
  • Personal Dose Equivalent (Hp(10)): Measured by personal dosimeters worn by individuals, typically assessed at a depth of 10 mm.

Protection Quantities

These are calculated models used to set exposure limits and ensure that stochastic health effects are kept below unacceptable levels. They are derived using anthropomorphic phantoms and complex computational models:

  • Equivalent Dose (HT): The absorbed dose in a tissue or organ (T), weighted by the radiation type (WR).
  • Effective Dose (E): The sum of the equivalent doses to various tissues and organs, each weighted by its tissue weighting factor (WT). This provides a measure of the total body risk.
  • Committed Dose: Calculated for internal radiation sources (ingested or inhaled radionuclides) over a specified period (typically 50 years for adults).

Calculating Radiation Risk

The Formula

The calculation of equivalent dose (HT) for a specific tissue (T) involves summing the absorbed doses (DT,R) from different radiation types (R), each multiplied by its corresponding radiation weighting factor (WR):

HT = ฮฃR WR โ‹… DT,R

For example, an absorbed dose of 1 gray (Gy) from alpha particles, which have a high WR value of 20, results in an equivalent dose of 20 sieverts (Sv). This signifies that the biological effect is 20 times greater than that of 1 Gy of X-rays (where WR is 1).

Tissue Weighting Factors

To determine the effective dose (E), the equivalent doses to individual organs or tissues are summed, each weighted by the tissue weighting factor (WT) that reflects the organ's sensitivity to radiation-induced cancer. The sum of all WT values for the entire body is normalized to 1.0. This allows for a standardized comparison of overall stochastic risk, regardless of which parts of the body were irradiated.

The tissue weighting factors (WT) have been revised over time by the ICRP. The following table shows values from ICRP Publication 103 (2007):

Organs WT (ICRP 103, 2007)
Gonads 0.08
Red bone marrow 0.12
Colon 0.12
Lung 0.12
Stomach 0.12
Breasts 0.12
Bladder 0.04
Liver 0.04
Oesophagus 0.04
Thyroid 0.04
Skin 0.01
Bone surface 0.01
Salivary glands 0.01
Brain 0.01
Remainder of body 0.12
Total 1.00

Health Effects of Radiation

Stochastic Effects

These effects occur randomly and are characterized by the probability of occurrence rather than the severity of the effect. The primary stochastic effects considered in radiation protection are cancer induction and hereditary genetic damage. The consensus, based on the linear no-threshold (LNT) model, suggests that the risk of these effects increases proportionally with effective dose. While the LNT model is widely used, some scientific debate exists regarding whether a threshold dose exists below which repair mechanisms effectively prevent damage.

Deterministic Effects

Also known as tissue reactions or acute effects, these occur with certainty above a certain threshold dose. Their severity increases with dose. Examples include skin burns, hair loss, cataracts, and sterility. These effects are typically associated with high doses received over short periods (acute exposure). Deterministic effects are conventionally measured using the absorbed dose unit, the gray (Gy), rather than the sievert.

Historical Context

Origins and Evolution

The sievert unit emerged from the need for a standardized measure of biological risk from different types of radiation. It evolved from the older CGS unit, the rem (roentgen equivalent man). The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) began promoting a transition to coherent SI units in the 1970s. The ICRP introduced the sievert in 1977, and it was subsequently adopted by the CIPM in 1980. The definition and application of the sievert have been refined over time, particularly concerning the weighting factors used in its calculation, to align with evolving radiobiological understanding.

SI Units and Rem Equivalence

The sievert is the SI unit, equivalent to 100 rem. While the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission permits the use of rem alongside SI units, the European Union has mandated the phase-out of rem for public health purposes. The relationship is straightforward:

1 Sv = 100 rem

This conversion is crucial for understanding historical data and international standards.

Dose Examples in Sieverts

Illustrative Doses

Understanding radiation doses requires context. The sievert is often used with prefixes like milli- (mSv) and micro- (ยตSv) due to the typically low levels encountered in everyday life. Here are some examples to illustrate the scale:

  • Banana Equivalent Dose (BED): Approximately 98 nSv (nanosieverts) โ€“ a conceptual unit for everyday radiation exposure.
  • Dental Radiographs: 5โ€“10 ยตSv for a typical set.
  • Annual Background Radiation: ~2.4 mSv globally average.
  • Full Body CT Scan: 10โ€“30 mSv.
  • Occupational Dose Limit (US): 50 mSv per year.
  • Fatal Dose (LD50/30): ~4โ€“5 Sv received acutely.

Dose Rates

Dose rates, measured in Sv per unit time (e.g., Sv/h or mSv/a), provide context for continuous or repeated exposures:

  • Airline Crew Exposure: ~1.5โ€“1.7 mSv per year (due to increased cosmic radiation at altitude).
  • Natural Background at Airline Altitude: ~24 mSv per year.
  • High Radiation Area in Nuclear Plant: ~1 mSv/h (equivalent to ~9 Sv/a if continuously present).
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident Worker (Highest): ~670 mSv.

Units and Relationships

Key Radiation Units

The sievert is part of a system of units used to quantify radioactivity and its effects. Understanding these relationships is key:

  • Activity: Measured in Becquerel (Bq) or Curie (Ci).
  • Exposure: Measured in Coulomb per kilogram (C/kg) or Roentgen (R).
  • Absorbed Dose: Measured in Gray (Gy) or rad.
  • Equivalent/Effective Dose: Measured in Sievert (Sv) or rem.

The conversion factor between the SI unit and the older CGS unit is 1 Sv = 100 rem.

Ionizing Radiation Quantities Table

This table summarizes key quantities, their SI units, symbols, and historical non-SI equivalents:

Quantity SI Unit Symbol Non-SI Unit Symbol SI Equivalent
Activity becquerel Bq curie Ci 3.7ร—1010 Bq
Exposure coulomb per kilogram C/kg roentgen R 2.58ร—10โˆ’4 C/kg
Absorbed Dose gray Gy rad rad 0.010 Gy
Equivalent Dose sievert Sv roentgen equivalent man rem 0.010 Sv
Effective Dose sievert Sv roentgen equivalent man rem 0.010 Sv

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References

References

  1.  The dose rate received by air crews is highly dependent on the radiation weighting factors chosen for protons and neutrons, which have changed over time and remain controversial.
  2.  Noted figures exclude any committed dose from radioisotopes taken into the body. Therefore the total radiation dose would be higher unless respiratory protection was used.
  3.  Please note there are two non-SI units that use the same Sv abbreviation: the sverdrup and svedberg.
  4.  Measurement of H*(10) and Hp(10) in Mixed High-Energy Electron and Photon Fields. E. Gargioni, L. Bรƒยผermann and H.-M. Kramer Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany
  5.  "Operational Quantities for External Radiation Exposure, Actual Shortcomings and Alternative Options", G. Dietze, D.T. Bartlett, N.E. Hertel, given at IRPA 2012, Glasgow, Scotland. May 2012
  6.  UNSCEAR-2008 Annex A page 40, table A1, retrieved 2011-7-20
  7.  http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/health-effects/measuring-radiation.html
A full list of references for this article are available at the Sievert Wikipedia page

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