What unit is commonly used to measure radiation dose?

The sievert (Sv) is a unit that is commonly used to measure the biological effects of ionizing radiation on human tissues. It provides a way to quantify the impact of radiation exposure by accounting for the type of radiation and the potential damage it can cause to living organisms.

The sievert is part of the International System of Units (SI) and is used to assess radiation dose in a way that reflects its biological consequences rather than just the physical amount of radiation energy absorbed. This makes it particularly useful in fields such as radiation protection, medical imaging, and radiation therapy.

While other units such as the millisievert (mSv), rad, and gray (Gy) also measure radiation, they serve different purposes or are used in specific contexts. For example, the gray measures the absorbed dose of radiation in terms of energy deposited per kilogram of tissue, while the rad is an older unit for absorbed dose. The millisievert is a subunit of the sievert, and it is often used for practical doses encountered in medical applications. However, the sievert is the standard unit for expressing dose equivalent in radiation protection contexts. Therefore, it is the most relevant choice when discussing the measurement of radiation dose in relation to its biological effects.