What is "dosimetry"

dosimetry \do*sim"e*try\, n. [NL. dosis dose + -metry.] (Med.) Measurement of doses; specif., a system of therapeutics which uses but few remedies, mostly alkaloids, and gives them in doses fixed by certain rules. -- Do`si*met"ric, a. -- Do*sim"e*trist, n.

n. the measurement of doses, especially of ionizing radiation

n. measuring the dose of radiation emitted by a radioactive source

Whilst Dosimetry in its original sense is the measurement of the absorbed dose delivered by ionizing radiation, the term is better known as a scientific sub-specialty in the fields of health physics and medical physics, where it is the calculation and assessment of the radiation dose received by the human body.

Internal dosimetry due to the ingestion or inhalation of radioactive materials relies on a variety of physiological or imaging techniques. External dosimetry, due to irradiation from an external source is based on measurements with a dosimeter, or inferred from other radiological protection instruments.

Dosimetry is used extensively for radiation protection and is routinely applied to occupational radiation workers, where irradiation is expected, but regulatory levels must not be exceeded. It is also used where radiation is unexpected, such as in the aftermath of the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima radiological release incidents, where the public irradiation is measured and calculated from a variety of indicators such as ambient measurements of radiation and radioactive contamination.

Other significant areas are medical dosimetry, where the required treatment absorbed dose and any collateral absorbed dose is monitored, and in environmental dosimetry, such as radon monitoring in buildings.