What is a dose conversion factor (DCF)?

A DCF converts activity (Bq or Ci) into dose rate (Sv/h or rem/h) for a specific radionuclide and exposure pathway. Values are tabulated by ICRP Publication 119 and similar references.

What is the difference between Becquerel and Curie?

1 Curie (Ci) = 3.7 × 10¹⁰ Becquerel (Bq). The Becquerel is the SI unit (1 decay per second); the Curie is the traditional unit still common in US industry.

What is the difference between Sievert and Rem?

1 Sievert (Sv) = 100 Rem. Sievert is the SI unit for effective dose; Rem is the older traditional unit. Both account for biological effectiveness of the radiation type.

Are these results suitable for regulatory reporting?

These are quick estimates for reference only. Regulatory dose assessments require calibrated instrumentation, site-specific geometry, and qualified health physicists.

Which exposure pathways are covered?

External gamma/beta dose rate at 1 meter from a point source, and committed effective dose from inhalation or ingestion using standard ICRP occupancy/intake assumptions.

Activity To Dose Converter

Convert radioactive activity (Bq or Ci) to absorbed or effective dose (Sv or rem) using standard dose conversion factors.

Inputs

Radionuclide

Activity

Exposure Duration (hours, for external dose)

For committed dose (inhalation/ingestion) duration is not used — dose is integrated over 50 years per ICRP.

Results

Enter activity and click Calculate to see the dose.

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Summary

This tool converts radioactive activity measurements (in Becquerel or Curie) into radiation dose equivalents (in Sievert or Rem) using standard dose conversion factors (DCF) from ICRP and NIST. It supports common radionuclides used in nuclear engineering, medicine, and radiation protection. Results are suitable for quick dose estimates in occupational health and shielding design contexts.

How it works

Select the radionuclide and exposure pathway from the dropdown list.
Enter the activity value and choose the unit (Bq or Ci).
Enter the exposure duration in hours.
Click Calculate to see the dose in Sievert and Rem.
Use the copy button to capture the result for reporting.

Use cases

Estimate occupational dose from radioactive source handling.
Radiation protection planning for nuclear facility workers.
Academic and training exercises in health physics.
Quick sanity-check calculations before detailed shielding analysis.
Converting activity units between Bq and Ci alongside dose output.
Teaching dose-rate relationships in nuclear engineering courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-30 · Reviewed by Nham Vu