Annals of the ICRP

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on Radiological Protection
B
Editor: H. SMITH, ICRP. Didcot. Ortordshire

International Commis{rn on Rediologkrl hotection l99l3-lgyl

Chairman: hof- R- IL Orrte, National Radio@al Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire,
oxn oRQ, u.K.
Vice-Chairman: Mr C. B. Mtiltl4 National Concil on Radiation Protection and Measurements. 79j0 Woodmont
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Scientific Socrctary: Dr. Ir. sdfr, ICRP, P.o. hx No. 35, Didcot, oxfordshire, oxll LRJ, u.K.
for use
Members of ttc Mein Comnisdon of the ICRP
D. Beninson, Buenos Aires A. Kaul, Salzgitter W. K. Sinclair, Bethesda
agar
H. J. Dtnster, Oxford D. Li, Taiyuan B. Lindell, Stockholm (Emeritus)
I. A- Ilyin, Moscow J. Li'ne,K, Lodz K. Z. Morgan, Atlanta (Emeritus)
W. Jacobi, Oberschleifheim H. Matsudaira, Chiba-shi L. S. Taylor, Maryland (Emeritus)
H. P. Jammet, Parls F. Mettler, Alburyerque ADOPTED

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fusnord
copyright @ 1997 ICRP and ICRU
All rigbts reserved, hr&ce
The International Commission on Rudiological Protection fu4' of Terms and Defi
encoursges lhe publication of trtnslations oJ'this report.
No part of this publication may he reproduced, stored in IL TNTRODUCTION
a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
mesns, electronic, electr ostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, L QUANTITIES USED
photocopying, recording or otherwise or repuhlished in any E(TERNAL RADIA]
form, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. al. Introduction
22- The Evolution of
First edition 1996 Radiation
rsBN 0 08 042739 I
ISSN 0146-6453 2.2.1. General
2.2.2. Dose eqr
Published quarterly (March, June, September, December) 2.2.3. The max
SeptemberiDecember 1996 issue
2.2.4. Conversi,
2.2.5. Dose eqt
Whilst every effort is made by the publishers and editorial board 2.2.6. Effective
to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinion or statement
appears in this journal, they wish to make it clear that the data
2.2.7. Operatio
and opinions appearing in the articles and advertisements herein 2.2.8. ICRP Pu
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no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the consequences of 2.2.11. ICRP Pu
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Drug and dosage selection: The authors have made every efort to 2.2.13. Summar;
ensure the accuracy of the information herein, particularly with 2-3. Absorbed Dose
regard to drug selection and dose. However, appropriate 2.3.1. Absorbe<
information souces should be consulted, esp€cially lor new or
unfamiliar drugs or procedures. It is the responsibility of every 2.3.2. Absorber
practitioner to evaluate the appropriateness of a particular 2.3.3. Mean ab
opinion in the context ofactual clinical situations and with due 2.4. Radiation Weigh
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2.4.1. General
Typeset hy Quorum Technical Services Ltd, Cheltenham 2.4.2. Radiatio
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Exeter
2.4.4. Radiatio
2.4.5. Radiatio
2.4.6. Q@)-L
2.4.7. Mean qu
2.4.8. Stopping
2.5. Radiological Pro
2.5.1. General
2.5.2. Organ al
2.5.3. Equivale
2.5.4. Effective
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2.6. Operational Quantities
2.6.1.
2.6.2.
2.6.3.
General
Dose equivalent
CONTENTS

Operational quantities for area monitoring

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2.6.4. Operational quantities for individual monitoring t7 5J-l- Gud
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3. DETERMINATION OF ABSORBED DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE 5J3- Indivtutui
HUMAN BODY AND IN ANTHROPOMORPHIC AND OTHER MODELS 2t 53-4- $mmry
3.1. Introduction 2t Cmal Conctusit
3.2. Radiation Field 22
3.3. Models and Phantoms of the Human Body 24
3.3.1. Reference man 24
3.3.2. Simple phantoms 24
3.3.3. Anthropomorphic models 24 FTGURES
3.4. Methods of Calculating Absorbed Dose Distributions 26 TABLES
3.4.1. Introduction 26
3.4.2. Transport codes-general features and special codes 27
3.5. Irradiation Geometries 31
3.5.1. General 31
3.5.2. Geometries used with the ICRU Sphere 33
3.5.3. Geometries used with the ICRU Slab 33

4. CO}WERSIONCOEFFICIENTS 35
4.1.Introduction 35
4.2. General 35
4.2.1. Radiation energy spectra and mixed radiation fields 35
4.3. Conversion Coefficients for Photons 36
4.3.1. Introduction 36
4.3.2. Special considerations for photons 36
4.3-3. Methods of calculation 37
4.3.4. Available data 37
4.3.5. Conversion coefficients and analysis 40
4.4. Conversion Coefficients for Neutrons 50
4.4.1. Introduction 50
4.4.2. Special considerations for neutrons 50
4.4.3. Methods of calculation 5l
4.4.4. Available data 53
4.4.5. Conversion coefficients and analysis: Protection Quantities 59
4.5. Conversion Coefficients for Electrons 7l
4.5.1. Introduction 7l
4.5.2. Special considerations for electrons 7t
4.5.3. Methods of calculation 72
4.5.4. Available data 72
4.5.5. Conversion coefficients and analysis: Protection Quantities 74

5. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN QUANTITIES 83

5.1. Introduction 83
5.2. Changes in the Protection and Operational Quantities 83
5.2.1. General 83
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 Following the 1977 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological
Protection (ICRP), the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements
(ICRU) developed a set of measurable operational quantities to supplement those dosimetric
quantities that are specified in the human body by the ICRP, sometimes called protection
quantities. The 1990 ICRP Recommendations made some changes to the specification of
these protection quantities.
As a result, a Joint Task Group of the ICRP and the ICRU was established with the
principal aim of determining whether the operational quantities still represent adequately the
protection quantities. The conclusion is that, with some exceptions that are not of
significance for radiological protection, the operational quantities continue to achieve their
objective.
The report provides an extensive and authoritative set of data linking field quantities,
operational quantities and protection quantities in a way that will be of help to those
working in radiological protection.
It was agreed that the final report, which has been approved by both Commissions, would
be published in the Annals of the ICRP and as an ICRU Report.

vi
 This report was prepared by a Joint Task Group of the International Commission on
Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Commission on Radiation Units and
Measurements (ICRU). The terms of reference of the Joint Task Group are discussed in the
Introduction (Section 1).
The Joint Task Group had the following membership:
Full Members
R. H. Thomas (Chairman)
L. W. Brackenbush G. Dietze
J-L. Chartier G. Drexler
M. J. Clark H. G. Menzel
Corresponding Members
R. Griffith B. R. L. Siebert
B. Grosswendt M. Zankl
N. Petoussi-Henss
The membership of ICRP Committee 2 during the period of the Joint Task Group was:
A. Kaul (Chairman) F. A. Fry M. Roy
A. Bouville J. Inaba J. W. Stather
X. Chen I. A. Likhta& D. M. Taylor
F. T. Cross H. MCtivier R. H. Thomas
G. Dietze H. G. Paretzke
K. F. Eckerman A. R. Reddy
The ICRU Sponsors of the report were:
R. S. Caswell
P. M. DeLuca
Members of the International Commission on Radiological Protection during the
preparation of this report:
R. H. Clarke (Chairman) A. Kaul
C. B. Meinhold (Vice-Chairman) D. Li
D. Beninson J. Liniecki
H. J. Dunster H. Matsudaira
L. A. Ilyin F. Mettler
W. Jacobi W. K. Sinclair
H. P. Jammet m H. Smith (Scientific Secretary)
Members of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements during
the preparation of this report:
A. Allisy (Chairman) M. Inokuti
A. Wambersie (Vice-Chairman) I. Isherwood
R. S. Caswell (Secretary) H. G. Menzel
P. M. DeLuca H. G. Paretzke
K. Doi H. H. Rossi
L. Feinendegen G. F. Whitmore
W. R. Ney (Assistant Secretary)
vii
 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF QUANTITIES

Absorbed Dose
denoted as D, is the quotient of dE by dm, where dE is the mean energy imparted by
ionising radiation to matter of mass dm, thus

D,!C
dm
The unit of absorbed dose is joule per kilogram (J kg-‘) and its special name is gray (Gy).

Ambient Dose Equivalent

denoted as H*(d), at a point in a radiation field is the dose equivalent that would be
produced by the corresponding expanded and aligned field in the ICRU sphere at a depth,
d, on the radius opposing the direction of the aligned field. The unit of ambient dose
equivalent is joule per kilogram (J kg-‘) and its special name is sievert (Sv).

Directional Dose Equivalent

denoted as H’(d,@, at a point in a radiation field, is the dose equivalent that would be
produced by the corresponding expanded field in the ICRU sphere at depth, d, on a radius
in a specified direction, fi. The unit of directional dose equivalent is joule per kilogram
(J kg- ‘) and its special name is sievert (Sv).

Dose Equivalent
denoted as H, is the product of Q and D at a point in tissue, where D is the absorbed dose
and Q is the quality factor at that point, thus
H=QD.

The unit of dose equivalent is joule per kilogram (J kg-‘) and its special name is sievert
(Sv).

Dose Equivalent Index’, HI

maximum dose equivalent within the ICRU sphere centred at the point in space to which
the quantity is assigned. The outer 0.07 mm thick shell is ignored. It was also called the
unrestricted dose equivalent index (see ICRU, 1980) (see also ICRU, 1988 for a definition
of deep and shallow dose equivalent index).

Effective Dose
a summation of the equivalent doses in tissues or organs, each multiplied by the
appropriate tissue weighting factor. It is given by the expression

where HT is the equivalent dose in tissue or organ, T, and wr is the tissue weighting factor

‘Obsolete quantity; included for completeness.

ix
X GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF QUANTITIES

for tissue, T (see Table 3). The effective dose can also be expressed as the sum of the
doubly weighted absorbed dose in all the tissues and organs of the body.

Effective Dose Equivalent

denoted as HE, is the weighted average of the annual dose equivalents, each weighted by a
tissue or organ weighting factor, thus:

HE=&&
T

where HT is the annual dose equivalent in tissue, T, and WT is the tissue weighting factor
for tissue, T, as formerly recommended by the ICRP (see Table 1).

Energy Imparted
denoted as E, by the ionising radiation to matter in a volume is given by:
E = Ri” - Rout + ZQ

where Ri, is the radiant energy incident on the volume, i.e. the sum of all the energies
(excluding rest energies) of all those charged and uncharged ionising particles that enter the
volume; R,,, is the radiant energy emerging from the volume, i.e. the sum of all the energies
(excluding rest energies) of all those charged and uncharged ionising particles that leave the
volume; and CQ is the sum of all changes of the rest mass energy of nuclei and elementary
particles in any interactions that occur in the volume. (In the sum, decreases are denoted by
( + ) and increases are denoted by (-).) The expectation value of E, termed the mean energy
imparted and denoted I, is closely related to the definition of the absorbed dose, D.

Equivalent Dose
denoted as HT,R, is the absorbed dose in an organ or tissue multiplied by the relevant
radiation weighting factor (see Table 2), thus:
HT,R = WR-DT,R

where DT,R is the absorbed dose averaged over the tissue or organ, T, due to radiation R,
and wn is the radiation weighting factor for radiation, R. When the radiation field is
composed of radiations with different values of wn, the absorbed dose is subdivided into
blocks, each multiplied by its own value of wn and summed to determine the total
equivalent dose, i.e.

HT = &'R.DT,R
R

The unit of equivalent dose is joule per kilogram (J kg-‘) and its special name is sievert
(Sv).

Fluence
denoted as @, is the quotient of dN by da, where dN is the number of particles incident on
a sphere of cross-sectional area da, thus:
 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF QUANTITIES xi
Individual Dose Equivalent, penetrating, H,,(d)
the dose equivalent in soft tissue below a specified point on the body at depth, d, which is
appropriate for strongly penetrating radiation.

Individual Dose Equivalent, superficial, H,(d)

the dose equivalent in soft tissue below a specified point on the body at a depth, d, which is
appropriate for weakly penetrating radiation (see personal dose equivalent).

Kerma, K
the quotient of dE,, by dm, where dE,, is the sum of the initial kinetic energies of all the
charged ionising particles liberated by uncharged ionising particles in a volume element of
mass dm, thus:

The unit of kerma is joule per kilogram (J kg-‘) and its special name is gray (Gy).

Linear Energy Transfer

or linear collision stopping power, L, of a material, for a charged particle, is the quotient
of dE by df, where dE is the mean energy lost by the particle, owing to collisions with
electrons, in traversing a distance dL, thus:

Operational Quantity
a quantity with which, by means of its measurement, compliance with the system of
protection may be demonstrated. Examples of operational quantities are ambient dose
equivalent, directional dose equivalent and personal dose equivalent.

Organ Dose
for radiation protection purposes. It is the mean absorbed dose, DT, in a specified tissue or
organ of the human body, T, given by

DT = (l/mT) D dm or &T/m=

where m-r is the mass of tissue or organ, D is the absorbed dose in the mass element dm,
and &Tis the total energy imparted in the tissue or organ.

Personal Dose Equivalent

denoted as H,,(d), is the dose equivalent in soft tissue at an appropriate depth, d, below a
specified point on the body. The unit of personal dose equivalent is joule per kilogram
(J kg-‘) and its special name is sievert (Sv).

Protection Quantities
dosimetric quantities specified in the human body by the ICRF’. Examples of protection
quantities are effective dose and equivalent dose.
Xii GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF QUANTITIES

Quality Factor
a function, Q, of unrestricted linear energy transfer, L, in water. Values of Q(L) as a
function of L are given in ZCRP Publication 60 (ICRP, 1991a) by the following relations:

Q(L) = 1 (L < 10)

Q(L) = 0.32L - 2.2 (10 5 L 2 100)
Q(L) = 300/,/L (L > 100)

where L is expressed in keV pm-‘.

The mean quality factor, Q-r, in a specified tissue or organ, T, is given by

QDdm

where DT is the mean absorbed dose to the tissue or organ, mr is its mass, and Q and D
are the quality factors and the absorbed dose in the mass element dm, respectively.

Relative Biological Effectiveness, RBEM

the ratio of the absorbed dose of a reference radiation to the absorbed dose of a given test
radiation required to produce the same level of response, all other conditions being kept
constant. The subscript M refers to a stochastic effect.

Radiation Weighting Factor

A factor denoted wn, by which the tissue or organ absorbed dose is multiplied to reflect
the higher RBEM values for neutrons and alpha particles compared with low LET
radiations. Table 2 gives the values of radiation weighting factor used for radiological
protection purposes as now recommended by ICRP.
When calculation of the radiation weighting factors for neutrons requires a continuous
function, the following approximation can be used:

where E,, is the neutron energy in MeV. There is no intention to imply any biological
meaning to this relationship. It is simply a tool for calculation.
For radiation types and energy that are not included in this table, an approximation of
wa can be obtained by calculation of Q at a depth of 10 mm in the ICRU sphere:

where D(L)dL is the absorbed dose at 10 mm between linear energy transfer, L, and
L+dL; and Q(L) is the quality factor at 10 mm [paragraph A14, ZCRP Publication 60
(ICRP, 1991a)l.l

‘The symbol D(L) has historically been used by the ICRP for the absorbed dose between linear energy transfer, L,
and L+ dL. ICRU uses DL for the same quantity. In both instances the more usual mathematical symbol would be
dD/dL.
 ...
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF QUANTITIES Xl11

Tissue Weighting Factor, wT

a factor by which the equivalent dose to a tissue or organ is multiplied in order to account
for the relative stochastic detriment resulting from the exposure of different tissues and
organs. (See Table 3 for the tissue weighting factors as now recommended by ICRP.)

Table 1. Tissue weighting factors (ICRP Publicclrion 26)a

Tissue or organ Tissue weighting factor, or

Gonads 0.25
Bone marrow (red) 0.12
Lung 0.12
Breast 0.15
Thyroid 0.03
Bone surfaces 0.03
Remainder 0.30

“ICRP (1977); see paragraph 105 of ICRP Publication 26 for further

details of Remainder Tissues.

Table 2. Values for radiation weighting factors (ZCRP Publicution 60)’

Types of energy range of radiation Radiation weighting factor, wa

Photons, all energies 1
Electrons and muons, all energiesb 1
Neutrons, energy
< 10 keV 5
16100 keV 10
> 100 keV to 2 MeV 20
> 2-20 MeV 10
> 20 MeV 5
Protons, other than recoil protons, energy > 2 MeV 5
Alpha particles, fission fragments, heavy nuclei 20

“ICRP (199la).
bExcluding Auger electrons emitted from nuclei bound to DNA, for which special
microdosimetric considerations are needed.

Table 3. Tissue weighting factors”

Tissue or organ Tissue weighting factor, wr

Gonads 0.20
Bone marrow (red) 0.12
Colon 0.12
Lung 0.12
Stomach 0.12
Bladder 0.05
Breast 0.05
Liver 0.05
Oesophagus 0.05
Thyroid 0.05
Skin 0.01
Bone surface 0.01
Remainder 0.05

*See footnotes on Table 2 of ICRP Puhlicurion 60 for further

details.
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 I
ICRP Publication 54 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 19 No. l-3)
for Intakes of Radionuclides by Workers: Design and
Individual Monitoring
Interpretation 0 08 035600 I
ICRP Publication 53 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 18 No. l-4)
Radiation D ose t o P at ient s .fr om Radiopharmaceutic als 0 08 035591 9
ICRP Publication 52 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 17 No. 4)
Protection of the Patient in Nuclear Medicine 0 08 033188 2
ICRP Publication 51 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 17 No. 2/3)
Data for (Jse in Protection Against External Radiation 0 08 035s87 0
ICRP Publication 50 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 17 No' 1)
Lung Cancer Risk from Indoor Exposures to Radon Daughters 0 08 035579 X
ICRP Publication 49 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 16 No. 4)
Developmentat Efibcts of lrradiation on the Brain of the Embryo and Fetus 0 08 035203 0
ICRP Publication 48 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 16 No. 2/3)
The Metabolism of Plutonium and Related Elements 0 08 034827 0
ICRP Publication 47 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 16 No' l)
Radiation Proteclion of Workers in Mines 0 08 034020 2
ICRP Publication 46 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 15 No. 4)
Radintion Protection Principles for the Disposal of Solid Radioactive Waste 0 08 033666 3

ICRP Publication 45 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 15 No. 3)

Quantitative Bases.for Developing a Unified Index of Harm 0 08 033665 5
ICRP Publication 44 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 15 No. 2)
Protection of the Patient in Radiation Therapy 0 08 032336 7
ICRP Publication 43 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 15 No. 1)
Principles of Monitoring.for the Radiation Protection of the Population 0 08 032335 9
ICRP Publication 42 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 14 No. 4)
A Compilation of the Maior Concepts and Quantities in use by ICRP 0 08 032334 0
ICRP Publication 4l (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 14 No. 3)
Nonstochaslic Efi'ects of lonizing Radiation 0 08 032333 2
ICRP Publication 40 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 14 No. 2)
Protection of the Public in the Event of Maior Radiation Accidents:
Princip les .for P lanning 0 08 032302 2
ICRP Publication 39 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 14 No. l)
Principles.for Limiting Exposure of the Public to Natural Sources of Radiation 0 08 031503 8
ICRP Publication 38 (Annals of the ICRP Vols. I l-13)
Radionuclide Transformations: Energy and Intensity of Emissions 0 08 030761 2
ICRP Publication 37 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. l0 No. 2/3)
Cost-Benefit Analysis in the Optimization of Radiation Protection 0 08 029817 6
ICRP Publication 36 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. l0 No. l)
Protection against lonizing Radiation in the Teaching of Science 0 08 029818 4
ICRP Publication 34 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 9 No. 2/3)
Protection of the Patient in Diagnostic Radiology 0 08 029797 8
ICRP Publication 32 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 6 No. 1)
Limits of Inhalation of Radon Daughters by Workers 0 08 028864 2
ICRP Publication 30
Limits for Intakes of Radionuclides by Workers
Part I (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 2 No. 3/4) 0 08 022638 8
Part 2 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. a No. 3/4) 0 08 026832 3
Supplement to Part 2 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 5) 0 08 026833 I
Part 3 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 6 No. 2/3) 0 08 026834 X
Supplement A to Part 3 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 7)
B to Part 3 (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 8 No. l-3) 0 08 026835 8
Part 4: An Addendum (Annals of the ICRP Vol. 19 No. 4) 0 08 036886 7

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 Annals of the ICRP
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Future publications of the ICRP

ICRP Publication -, General Principles for Radiation Protection of Workers (1996197).
ICR.P Publication -, Pratection from Potentia! Exposure' Application to Selected Radiation Sources
(lee6le1).
ICRP Publication -, Age-dependent Doses to Members of the Public from Intake of Radionuclides, Part 6,
Entbrya and Fetus (1996197).
ICRP Publication -, Indiuidual Monitoring .for Intakes of Radionuclides by Workers: Design and
Interpretation" (Update of Publication 54) (199697).
ICRP Publication -, Principles for the Pratection of the Public against Chronic Exposure Situations
(tee6le7).
ICRP Publication -, Genetic Susceptibility to Cancer (1997).
ICRP Publication -, Basic Anatomical and Phy.tiological Parameters for use in Radiological Protection,
Part 2, Anatomy, Physiology and Elemental Composition (1997 198).
ICRP Publication -, Rrsk Estbnation for lulultifactorial Diseases (1997 198).

ICRP Publication -, Age-dependent Doses to Members of the Fublicfrom Intake of Radionuclides, Part 7,
R"eliability of Dose Cofficients (1997 198).
ICRP Publication-, Basic Anatomical and Physiological Parameters.for use in Radiological Protection,
Part 3, Respiratory and Digestiue Systems (1997 198).
ICRP Publicatton-, Limits.for Inta.kes of Radionuclides b1; Workers: Reuision oJ'Publicatiotr 30(2000).

Technical reports
Use o.f the Respiratary T'ract Model for Calculating Doses for Specified Inhaled Chemical Forms of
Radionuciide (1997).

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