☢️ Radiation Unit Converter

Professional radiation unit converter for nuclear physics, medical dosimetry, and radiation safety. Convert Sievert, Gray, Roentgen, Curie, and more with safety guidelines.

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Dosimetry
Nuclear
Medical
Safety

Radiation Unit Converter

⚠️ RADIATION SAFETY WARNING: This tool is for educational and professional use only. Always follow proper radiation safety protocols and consult qualified radiation protection professionals for actual radiation exposure assessments.
Sievert
Sv

SI unit for dose equivalent. Measures biological effect of ionizing radiation on human tissue.

Gray
Gy

SI unit for absorbed dose. 1 Gy = 1 joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of matter.

Becquerel
Bq

SI unit for radioactivity. 1 Bq = 1 nuclear decay per second.

Curie
Ci

Traditional unit for radioactivity. 1 Ci = 3.7 × 10¹⁰ Bq (37 billion decays per second).

Radiation Dosimetry

Dosimetry Fundamentals: The science of measuring and calculating radiation doses for radiation protection and medical applications.
📊 Dose Quantities
  • Absorbed Dose (D): Energy deposited per unit mass (Gray)
  • Equivalent Dose (H): Absorbed dose × radiation weighting factor (Sievert)
  • Effective Dose (E): Sum of weighted equivalent doses (Sievert)
  • Committed Dose: Dose from internal contamination over 50 years
  • Collective Dose: Sum of individual doses in a population
  • Ambient Dose: Environmental dose measurement
⚖️ Radiation Weighting Factors
  • Photons (X-rays, Gamma): wᵣ = 1
  • Electrons, Muons: wᵣ = 1
  • Protons: wᵣ = 2
  • Alpha particles: wᵣ = 20
  • Neutrons: wᵣ = 5-20 (energy dependent)
  • Heavy ions: wᵣ = 20
🎯 Tissue Weighting Factors
  • Gonads: wₜ = 0.08
  • Red bone marrow: wₜ = 0.12
  • Colon: wₜ = 0.12
  • Lung: wₜ = 0.12
  • Stomach: wₜ = 0.12
  • Breast: wₜ = 0.12
  • Thyroid: wₜ = 0.04
🔬 Measurement Instruments
  • Ionization chambers: Precise dose rate measurements
  • Geiger-Müller tubes: Radiation detection and counting
  • Scintillation detectors: Gamma and neutron detection
  • Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD): Personal dosimetry
  • Film badges: Historical personal monitoring
  • Electronic personal dosimeters: Real-time monitoring

Annual Dose Limits (ICRP Recommendations)

Category Effective Dose Limit Equivalent Dose Limit Application
Radiation Workers20 mSv/year (averaged over 5 years)500 mSv/year (hands, feet)Occupational exposure
General Public1 mSv/year50 mSv/year (skin)Public exposure limit
Pregnant Workers1 mSv (to fetus)2 mSv (equivalent dose to abdomen)Pregnancy protection
Students (16-18 years)6 mSv/year150 mSv/year (hands, feet)Educational training
Emergency Workers100 mSv (life saving)1000 mSv (hands, feet)Emergency situations

Nuclear Physics & Technology

Nuclear Applications: Radioactivity measurements, nuclear reactor operations, and radioactive waste management.
⚛️ Radioactive Decay
  • Activity (A): Number of decays per second (Becquerel)
  • Half-life (t₁/₂): Time for 50% decay
  • Decay constant (λ): λ = ln(2)/t₁/₂
  • Decay law: N(t) = N₀e^(-λt)
  • Activity decay: A(t) = A₀e^(-λt)
  • Specific activity: Activity per unit mass
🏭 Nuclear Reactors
  • Reactor power: Typically 1000-4000 MW thermal
  • Fuel activity: ~10¹⁸ Bq (fresh fuel assembly)
  • Spent fuel: ~10¹⁶ Bq/assembly after cooling
  • Coolant activity: Primary loop contamination
  • Waste classification: Low, intermediate, high-level
  • Containment: Multiple barrier systems
🔬 Nuclear Research
  • Particle accelerators: High-energy physics research
  • Research reactors: Neutron source facilities
  • Isotope production: Medical and industrial radioisotopes
  • Neutron activation: Material analysis techniques
  • Nuclear forensics: Material identification
  • Dating methods: Carbon-14, uranium series
♻️ Waste Management
  • Low-level waste: < 400 Bq/g typical
  • Intermediate-level: Requires shielding
  • High-level waste: Heat-generating, long-lived
  • Disposal methods: Near-surface, geological
  • Decay storage: Short-lived isotope management
  • Vitrification: Glass matrix immobilization
Radioactive Decay Law
A(t) = A₀ × e^(-λt)
λ = ln(2) / t₁/₂

Activity decreases exponentially with decay constant λ and half-life t₁/₂.

Dose Rate Calculation
Ḋ = Γ × A / r²
Γ = dose rate constant

Dose rate depends on source activity A and distance r squared.

Shielding Attenuation
I = I₀ × e^(-μx)
μ = linear attenuation coefficient

Radiation intensity decreases exponentially through shielding material.

Medical Radiation Applications

Medical Physics: Radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, and nuclear medicine applications with patient dose considerations.
🏥 Diagnostic Imaging
  • Chest X-ray: 0.02-0.1 mSv effective dose
  • Mammography: 0.4 mSv typical dose
  • CT chest: 5-7 mSv effective dose
  • CT abdomen: 10-15 mSv effective dose
  • Fluoroscopy: 1-20 mSv (procedure dependent)
  • Dental X-ray: 0.005 mSv per image
☢️ Nuclear Medicine
  • Tc-99m bone scan: 4-6 mSv effective dose
  • F-18 FDG PET: 5-7 mSv effective dose
  • I-131 thyroid therapy: 1-150 GBq activities
  • Cardiac perfusion: 10-15 mSv typical dose
  • Kidney function: 1-3 mSv effective dose
  • Lung ventilation: 0.5-2 mSv effective dose
🎯 Radiation Therapy
  • External beam: 45-80 Gy tumor dose
  • Brachytherapy: High dose rate treatments
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery: 12-24 Gy single fraction
  • IMRT/VMAT: Intensity modulated techniques
  • Proton therapy: Precise dose distribution
  • Radioimmunotherapy: Targeted isotope therapy
🛡️ Radiation Protection
  • ALARA principle: As Low As Reasonably Achievable
  • Time optimization: Minimize exposure duration
  • Distance: Inverse square law application
  • Shielding: Lead aprons, thyroid shields
  • Personal monitoring: TLD badges, electronic dosimeters
  • Pregnancy protocols: Special protection measures

Medical Procedure Dose Ranges

Procedure Typical Dose (mSv) Range (mSv) Equivalent Background
Chest X-ray0.050.02-0.16 days
Mammography0.40.3-0.67 weeks
CT Head21-38 months
CT Chest64-82 years
CT Abdomen128-204 years
Nuclear Medicine51-201.5 years
Cardiac Catheterization155-505 years

Radiation Safety Guidelines

⚠️ CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION: High radiation doses can cause serious health effects including radiation sickness, cancer, and death. Always follow established safety protocols and consult radiation protection professionals.
⚡ Acute Radiation Effects
  • 0-0.25 Sv: No observable effects
  • 0.25-1 Sv: Possible blood changes
  • 1-2 Sv: Mild radiation sickness
  • 2-4 Sv: Severe radiation sickness
  • 4-6 Sv: LD₅₀/₆₀ (50% lethal in 60 days)
  • >6 Sv: Usually fatal without treatment
🏥 Emergency Response
  • Decontamination: Remove contaminated clothing
  • Medical evaluation: Immediate assessment
  • Bioassays: Internal contamination testing
  • Blocking agents: Potassium iodide for thyroid
  • Chelation therapy: Remove internal contamination
  • Supportive care: Treat symptoms and complications
🛡️ Protection Principles
  • Justification: Benefits outweigh risks
  • Optimization: ALARA implementation
  • Dose limitation: Stay below limits
  • Time control: Minimize exposure duration
  • Distance: Maximize distance from source
  • Shielding: Use appropriate barriers
📋 Safety Equipment
  • Personal dosimeters: TLD, OSL, electronic
  • Survey meters: Radiation detection instruments
  • Protective clothing: Lead aprons, gloves
  • Respiratory protection: Contamination prevention
  • Emergency kits: Decontamination supplies
  • Warning signs: Radiation area marking

Natural Background Radiation Sources

Source Annual Dose (mSv) Percentage of Total Notes
Radon gas1.354%Indoor air contamination
Cosmic radiation0.3314%Increases with altitude
Terrestrial gamma0.219%Natural radioactivity in soil
Internal radioactivity0.2310%C-14, K-40 in body
Medical procedures0.625%X-rays, nuclear medicine
Nuclear weapons fallout0.010.4%Historical atmospheric testing
Nuclear power0.00010.004%Normal operation releases
Professional Guidance: Always consult qualified health physicists, radiation safety officers, or medical physicists for radiation protection advice and dose assessments in professional settings.