What units are used to measure radioactivity?
To measure the dose of radioactivity, the becquerel (Bq) is equal to 1 disintegration per second (dps) and is the SI unit of radioactivity. The curie (Ci) is equal to 3.7 × 10 10 dps, or 37 MBq, which is approximately equal to the radioactivity of 1 gram of radium-226 ( 226 Ra), and is the non-SI unit of radioactivity. The effect of ionizing radiation on the body is typically measured by the Sievert (Sv), the SI unit, or the rem (roentgen equivalent in man), the non-SI unit, where 1 Sv = 100 rem. One Sv is defined as the biologic effect of depositing one joule of radiation energy in one kilogram of human tissue.