Fig.1　Difference in radiation doses between an adult and a zero-year-old baby

• Effective dose is originally defined as averaged radiation dose for adult westerners (men and women).
• The relation between effective dose and size of body has been investigated by applying the above definition to the other types of people.
• The most important factor that affects the radiation dose is the body size depending on the age. Therefore, age-dependent dose conversion coefficients have been prepared.
• Data measured with a personal dosimeter reflect difference in radiation doses depending of the body size.
• It was confirmed that difference in radiation doses among gender, race, and body size is not so large.
• It is possible to evaluate radiation dose depending on the age.

Related articles

• In what ways does exposure to radiation occur the environment? What kinds of radiation exposures are important in Fukushima?
• Why are radiation doses measured with personal dosimeters different from those estimated using air dose rates?
• What kind of unit is used for the evaluation of radiation dose? What is the relationship between the unit and air dose rates?

Reference

1. Saito, K. et al, Ambient dose equivalent conversion coefficients for radionuclides exponentially distributed in the ground, Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, vol.51, no.10, 2014, p.1274-1287.