What is radiation dose?
In GCSE Physics, the amount of radiation received by a person is called the radiation dose and is measured in sieverts (Sv). It is important to regulate the dose of radiation received by humans because a high dose of radiation can increase the risk of developing cancer.
A radiation dose of one sievert is a very big dose and would cause acute radiation poisoning. Most people receive a dose of about 3 mSv a year. A dosemeter is worn by a person working with radiation to measure the amount of radiation exposure received.
The radiation exposure a person receives depends on the intensity of background radiation at the location. People working with nuclear radiation or in the medical field are exposed to radiation regularly so their radiation dose must be monitored carefully. For example, the limit for radiation workers in the UK is 20 mSv per year.
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