In radiation monitoring reports, the dose is typically expressed in what unit?

In radiation monitoring reports, dose is typically expressed in rem, which is an important unit for measuring the biological effects of ionizing radiation on human tissue. The rem is defined in terms of the roentgen equivalent man and takes into account the type of radiation and its potential biological impact. This makes it particularly useful for assessing radiation exposure in terms of health risk, as it incorporates a quality factor that reflects the differing capacities of various types of radiation to cause biological damage.

While other units such as gray, sievert, and coulombs per kilogram are relevant in the field of radiation, they serve different purposes. Gray is a unit that quantifies the absorbed dose of radiation without accounting for biological effects, making it less appropriate for assessing the risk to human health directly. Sievert is another unit that is more aligned with the concept of effective dose, where it considers the risks associated with different types of radiation, yet it is more commonly used in medical and occupational radiation exposure assessments than in routine monitoring reports. Coulombs per kilogram measures the ionization of air due to radiation and is primarily used in evaluating exposure levels rather than direct dose effects on human tissue. Thus, rem is the most commonly used unit in radiation monitoring reports for practical applications concerning human health.