What is the definition of a rem?

The rem, or roentgen equivalent man, is defined as a measure of the biological effect of ionizing radiation. It takes into account the type of radiation and its potential to cause harm to human tissue. This measurement is important in assessing radiation exposure, especially when evaluating the health risks associated with different types of radiation sources, such as alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and x-rays.

The rem provides a way to quantify the effective dose received by individuals in terms of how that radiation affects biological systems. This relevance includes considerations such as the different levels of damage produced by different types of radiation, making it a crucial concept in fields like health physics and radiation safety. Thus, a rem is fundamentally concerned with the biological impact of radiation exposure rather than just the physical measurement of radiation itself or situations unrelated to ionizing radiation.