Relative biological effectiveness
The ratio of a dose of a low-LET reference radiation (usually of 137Cs or 60Co γ rays or kilovoltage x-ray quality) to a dose of the test radiation considered that gives the identical level of a biological effect. For a given radiation quality, RBE values vary with the dose, dose fractionation, dose rate, and species, strains and biological endpoint considered.
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from ICRP Publication 136, 2017
A theoretical concept that expresses the property of the given radiation type to affect living biological tissue. RBE is defined as the ratio of absorbed dose of a low-linear-energy-transfer reference radiation to absorbed dose of the radiation considered that gives an identical biological effect. RBE values vary with absorbed dose, dose rate and biological endpoint considered.
from ICRP Publication 131, 2015
The ratio of a dose of a low-LET reference radiation (usually of 60Co γ rays or kilovoltage x-ray quality) to a dose of the test radiation considered that gives an identical biological effect. RBE values vary with the dose, dose fractionation, dose rate, and biological endpoint considered.
from ICRP Publication 127, 2014
The ratio of a dose of a low-LET reference radiation to a dose of the radiation considered that has an identical biological effect. RBE values vary with the dose, dose rate and biological endpoint considered.
from ICRP Publication 123, 2013
The ratio of absorbed dose of a low-LET reference radiation to absorbed dose of the radiation considered that gives an identical biological effect. RBE values vary with absorbed dose, absorbed dose rate, and the biological endpoint considered. In radiological protection, the RBE at low and very low doses (RBEM) is of particular interest.
from ICRP Publication 118, 2012
The ratio of a dose of a low-linear energy transfer reference radiation to a dose of the radiation considered that gives an identical biological effect. Values vary with the dose, dose rate, and biological endpoint considered.
from ICRP Publication 103, 2007
The ratio of a dose of a low-LET reference radiation to a dose of the radiation considered that gives an identical biological effect. RBE values vary with the dose, dose rate, and biological endpoint considered. In radiological protection, the RBE for stochastic effects at low doses (RBEM) is of particular interest.