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SI units of ionizing radiation
Summary
A.H. Becquerel (1852-1908)
R.M. Sievert (1898-1966)
L.H. Gray FRS (1905-1965)
Radioactivity standards at the BIPM
Pierre and Marie Curie at the BIPM
The history of radiation dosimetry I
The history of radiation dosimetry II
The history of radiation dosimetry III
Direct access
 SI brochure, from section 2.2.2

In the field of ionizing radiation, the SI unit of activity is designated the becquerel rather than the reciprocal second, and the SI units of absorbed dose and dose equivalent are designated the gray and the sievert, respectively, rather than the joule per kilogram. The special names becquerel, gray, and sievert were specifically introduced because of the dangers to human health that might arise from mistakes involving the units reciprocal second and joule per kilogram, in case the latter units were incorrectly taken to identify the different quantities involved.

The CIPM, recognizing the particular importance of the health-related units, adopted a detailed text on the sievert for the 5th edition of this Brochure: Recommendation 1 (CI-1984), and Recommendation 2 (CI-2002).
SI brochrue
     
Summary


A.H. Becquerel (1852-1908)
R.M. Sievert (1898-1966)
L.H. Gray FRS (1905-1965)
Radioactivity standards at the BIPM
Pierre and Marie Curie at the BIPM
The history of radiation dosimetry I: The Early Years (poster produced by NPL)
The history of radiation dosimetry II: The Middle Years (poster produced by NPL)
The history of radiation dosimetry III: The Later Years: 1940s-1990s (poster produced by NPL)