How is dose rate measured?

Dose rate is a measure of the amount of radiation exposure per unit of time and is typically expressed in units that reflect the biological effect of radiation on human tissue. The correct unit for dose rate in terms of biological effect is millirem per hour (mrem/hr). Millirem is a subunit of the rem, which is a traditional unit of dose equivalent used to represent the radiation dose that produces the same biological effect as one roentgen of X or gamma radiation.

Using mrem/hr allows for a clear understanding of the potential risk of exposure over time, making it a practical measure for radiological workers who need to monitor their exposure levels during their work with radioactive materials. This is crucial for implementing safety protocols and ensuring that individuals do not exceed recommended exposure limits.

Other options like Gy/hr (Gray per hour) and Sv/hr (Sievert per hour) are also used to measure dose rates but are less commonly employed in the context of occupational exposure. Gy is a SI unit representing absorbed dose, while Sv represents dose equivalent in a way that factors in the biological effect of different types of radiation, but doesn't convey the same immediacy in a practical sense for personal radiation monitoring in the same way mrem does. Curies per hour (C