Quality factors for alpha particles emitted in tissue

A concept of a mean or dose averaged quality factor was defined in ICRP Publication 26 using relationships for quality factor as a function of LET. The concept of radiation weighting factors, wR, was introduced in ICRP Publication 60 in 1990. These are meant to be generalized factors that modify abs...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inHealth physics (1958) Vol. 82; no. 1; p. 102
Main Author Borak, Thomas B
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2002
Subjects
Alpha Particles
Humans
Linear Energy Transfer
Radiation Dosage
NASA Discipline Radiation Health
Non-NASA Center
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:A concept of a mean or dose averaged quality factor was defined in ICRP Publication 26 using relationships for quality factor as a function of LET. The concept of radiation weighting factors, wR, was introduced in ICRP Publication 60 in 1990. These are meant to be generalized factors that modify absorbed dose to reflect the risk of stochastic effects as a function of the quality of the radiation incident on the body or emitted by radioactivity within the body. The values of wr are equal to 20 for all alpha particles externally or internally emitted. This note compares the dose averaged quality factor for alpha particles originating in tissue using the old and revised recommendations for quality factor as a function of LET. The dose averaged quality factor never exceeds 20 using the old recommendations and is never less than 20 with the revised recommendations.
ISSN:0017-9078
1538-5159
DOI:10.1097/00004032-200201000-00013