Collective dose

Collective Dose

Collective dose (pronounced kuh-lek-tiv dohs) is a term used in radiation protection to quantify the total radiation dose received by a population or group from a specified source. It is typically measured in man-sieverts (man-Sv) or person-rem.

Etymology

The term "collective dose" is derived from the English words "collective", meaning "done by people acting as a group", and "dose", which in the context of radiation refers to the amount of energy deposited in an object or person by ionizing radiation.

Definition

Collective dose is the sum of the individual doses received in a given period of time by a specified population from exposure to a specified source of radiation. It is used in the field of radiation safety and radiation protection to assess the potential health effects of radiation exposure on a population level.

Calculation

The collective dose is calculated by multiplying the average individual dose by the number of individuals exposed. For example, if a population of 100 people each receive a dose of 0.01 Sv, the collective dose would be 1 man-Sv.

Related Terms

Effective dose: A measure of the radiation dose to tissue, accounting for the type of radiation and the sensitivity of the tissues exposed.
Equivalent dose: A measure of the dose to a tissue, accounting for the type of radiation but not the sensitivity of the tissues exposed.
Radiation dose: The amount of radiation energy absorbed by an object or person.
Radiation protection: The science and practice of protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
Radiation safety: The safe use of ionizing radiation to minimize potential health risks.