Glossary cont'd - doe-hdbk-1106-97

DOE-HDBK-1106-97

GLOSSARY (continued)

Disintegration, Nuclear: A spontaneous nuclear transformation (radioactivity) characterized by

the emission of energy and/or mass from the nucleus. When numbers of nuclei are involved, the

process is characterized by a definite half-life.

Dose Terms:

Committed Dose Equivalent: The calculated dose equivalent projected to be received by

a tissue or organ over a 50-year period after an intake of radionuclide into the body. It

does not include contributions from external dose.

Committed Effective Dose Equivalent: The sum of the committed dose equivalents to

various tissues in the body, each multiplied by its weighting factor.

Cumulative Annual Effective Dose Equivalent: The sum of the annual effective dose

equivalents recorded for an individual for each year of employment.

Dose Equivalent: The product of absorbed dose (D) in rad (or gray) in tissue, a quality

factor (Q), and other modifying factors (N).

Effective Dose Equivalent: The summation of the products of the dose equivalent

received by specified tissues of the body (HT) and the appropriate weighting factor (wT)--

that is, HE = ΣwTHT. It includes the dose from radiation sources internal and/or external to

the body.

Dosimeter: A portable instrument for measuring and registering the total accumulated dose to

ionizing radiation.

Dosimetry: The theory and application of the principles and techniques involved in the

measurement and recording of radiation doses. Its practical aspect is concerned with the use of

various types of radiation instruments with which measurements are made.