Editing Equivalent dose (section)

==Application==
[[File:Dose quantities and units.png|thumb|400px|External dose quantities used in radiation protection and dosimetry]]
To enable consideration of stochastic health risk, calculations are performed to convert the physical quantity absorbed dose into equivalent dose, the details of which depend on the radiation type. For applications in [[radiation protection]] and [[dosimetry]] assessment, the [[International Commission on Radiological Protection]] (ICRP) and the [[International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements]] (ICRU) have published recommendations and data on how to calculate equivalent dose from absorbed dose.

Equivalent dose is designated by the ICRP as a "limiting quantity"; to specify exposure limits to ensure that "the occurrence of stochastic health effects is kept below unacceptable levels and that tissue reactions are avoided".<ref>ICRP publication 103, paragraph 112</ref><ref>ICRP publication 103, paragraph B50</ref><ref>"In 1991, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) [7] recommended a revised system of dose limitation, including specification of primary ''limiting quantities'' for radiation protection purposes. These protection quantities are essentially unmeasurable" - IAEA Safety report 16</ref> This is a calculated value, as equivalent dose cannot be practically measured, and the purpose of the calculation is to generate a value of equivalent dose for comparison with observed health effects.<ref>ICRP publication 103, paragraph B64</ref>