What is the formula for calculating dose equivalent in radiation safety?

The formula for calculating dose equivalent in radiation safety is represented as H = Dose x Quality Factor. In this context, 'H' denotes the dose equivalent, which is a measure of the biological effect of the absorbed dose of radiation. The concept of dose equivalent incorporates not only the amount of radiation absorbed (the ordinary dose) but also a quality factor that accounts for the different biological impacts of various types of radiation.

This quality factor adjusts the absorbed dose to reflect the relative biological damage that different types of radiation can cause. For instance, alpha particles generally have a higher quality factor compared to beta particles or gamma rays due to their increased potential for causing cellular damage.

Thus, multiplying the absorbed dose by the quality factor allows practitioners to determine the dose equivalent, which is critical for assessing radiation risk and implementing safety measures in medical settings.