Cumulative Dose
The half-life of radionucleotides varies from days (iodine) to years (strontium, cobalt).
What might the cumulative dose depend on?
The cumulative dose will depend on:
- The measured dose at exposure
- The duration of exposure
- The date of decay
- The distance from the radioactive source (also affects radiation dose as absorbed radiation decreases proportionally to the square of the distance)
- Shielding (lead in some cases can reduce the effective absorbed dose)