Editing Equivalent dose (section)

===Relationship to committed dose===
Whilst equivalent dose is used for the stochastic effects of external radiation, a similar approach is used for internal, or [[committed dose]]. The ICRP defines an equivalent dose quantity for individual committed dose, which is used to measure the effect of inhaled or ingested radioactive materials. A committed dose from an internal source represents the same effective risk as the same amount of equivalent dose applied uniformly to the whole body from an external source.

'''Committed equivalent dose''', H <sub>T</sub>(''t'') is the time integral of the equivalent dose rate in a particular tissue or organ that will be received by an individual following intake of radioactive material into the body by a Reference Person, where s is the integration time in years.<ref>ICRP publication 103 - Glossary.</ref>
This refers specifically to the dose in a specific tissue or organ, in the similar way to external equivalent dose.

The ICRP states "Radionuclides incorporated in the human body irradiate the tissues over time periods determined by their physical half-life and their biological retention within the body. Thus they may give rise to doses to body tissues for many months or years after the intake. The need to regulate exposures to radionuclides and the accumulation of radiation dose over extended periods of time has led to the definition of committed dose quantities".<ref>ICRP Publication 103 paragraph 140</ref>