Overview
ASTM E170-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry provides authoritative definitions for terms widely used in the fields of radiation measurements and dosimetry. Developed by the ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear Technology and Applications, this terminology document harmonizes essential concepts with SI units and major international references, ensuring common understanding across disciplines engaged with ionizing radiation. It covers definitions related to energy deposition in materials, radiation effects on matter, and specialized language relevant to nuclear reactors, electronics hardness testing, and radiation processing of materials.
By outlining standardized terminology, ASTM E170-23 helps improve communication and reliability among professionals in nuclear technology, radiation safety, and quality assurance environments. Its alignment with ICRU, JCGM, NIST, and ISO documentation supports global harmonization in measurement and reporting.
Key Topics
- Fundamental Quantities: Definitions for core radiation measurement concepts such as absorbed dose, kerma, exposure, fluence, activity, and their respective units (e.g., gray, sievert, becquerel).
- Types of Radiation: Terminology covering X-rays, gamma rays, electrons, alpha particles, neutrons, and mixtures, facilitating precise discussion of radiation fields.
- Measurement Standards: Detailed terms for calibration, standard fields, certified reference materials, metrological traceability, and associated processes.
- Uncertainty and Accuracy: Clarity on measurement uncertainty (expanded, combined, aleatory, epistemic), accuracy, precision, and expression of uncertainty in line with international vocabularies.
- Dosimetry Systems and Devices: Definitions of dosimeter, dosimetry system, calorimeter, Fricke dosimeter, and related instrumentation.
- Radiation Interactions: Key concepts such as ionization, Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, buildup factors, and neutron fluence spectra.
Applications
ASTM E170-23 terminology is applicable across a range of industries and scientific disciplines where radiation measurement and dosimetry play a critical role, including:
- Nuclear Power: Standardizing the language used to describe radiation effects on reactor components, enabling accurate dosimetry and safety analysis.
- Radiation Hardness Testing: Ensuring consistent measurement principles in the testing and certification of electronic devices for radiation environments.
- Medical Physics and Healthcare: Providing a common technical vocabulary for radiation therapy, diagnostic radiology, and health physics, supporting quality assurance and patient safety.
- Radiation Processing: Facilitating clear communication in industries utilizing radiation for materials modification, sterilization, or food processing.
- Research and Development: Enabling researchers to accurately describe, compare, and validate experimental results involving radiation and its measurement.
- Regulatory and Compliance: Supporting traceable, internationally recognized reporting in compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
Related Standards
ASTM E170-23 is complemented by several reference standards and international documents, including:
- ASTM E722: Practice for Characterizing Neutron Fluence Spectra in Terms of an Equivalent Monoenergetic Neutron Fluence
- ASTM E910: Test Method for Application and Analysis of Helium Accumulation Fluence Monitors
- ICRU Report 85a: Fundamental Quantities and Units for Ionizing Radiation
- JCGM 100:2008 (GUM): Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement
- JCGM 200:2012 (VIM): International Vocabulary of Metrology
- NIST Technical Note 1297: Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results
- ISO 10012: Measurement Management Systems – Requirements for Measurement Processes and Measuring Equipment
Using ASTM E170-23 ensures clarity, comparability, and compliance in radiation dosimetry and measurement reporting, reinforcing best practices within both national and international contexts.