Which unit is used to measure the biological effect of radiation?

The unit that is used to measure the biological effect of radiation is the sievert. The sievert takes into account the type of radiation and its potential effects on human tissue. This is important because different types of radiation can have varying impacts on living organisms, even when they deliver the same amount of physical energy. The sievert represents a measure of health effect, specifically the stochastic effects of radiation, which can lead to cancer and genetic damage.

In the context of evaluating radiation exposure, using the sievert helps healthcare professionals assess and compare the risks associated with different types of radiation exposure, making it a crucial unit in radiation protection and safety protocols in medical settings, such as dental radiography.

The other units mentioned, such as the coulomb, gray, and roentgen, serve different purposes in measuring radiation. The coulomb is a unit of electrical charge, the gray measures the absorbed dose of radiation in tissue, and the roentgen is a unit that quantifies exposure to X-ray and gamma radiation. However, none of these specifically account for the biological impact, which is why the sievert is the appropriate choice for measuring the biological effect of radiation exposure.