Ionizing Radiation Department
From cancer treatment and medical imaging to radiation protection and environmental monitoring, accurate radiation measurements help protect people and provide confidence in the technologies and decisions that rely on them.
Building confidence in radiation measurements
The BIPM Ionizing Radiation Department develops and maintains primary measurement standards, operates international reference systems, and provides comparison and calibration services.
Working with National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), Designated Institutes (DIs) and international partners, the Department helps ensure that radiation measurements can be compared with confidence worldwide.
Where our work matters
Accurate ionizing radiation measurements are essential in healthcare, radiation protection, environmental monitoring, research and industry.
Healthcare
Radiotherapy, medical imaging and nuclear medicine.
Radiation protection
Reliable measurements of radiation exposure.
Environment
Monitoring radioactivity in the environment.
Research and industry
Scientific research, nuclear technologies and emerging applications.
Explore the Department’s work
Explore the Department’s areas of expertise, measurement and technical services.
Neutron metrology
The BIPM supports international work in neutron metrology through the Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation (CCRI), including comparisons and measurement needs in radiation protection, high-energy neutron fields and emerging medical applications.
Building ionizing radiation expertise
The BIPM brings ionizing-radiation specialists together through international partnerships and specialist learning resources.
Bilateral comparisons and calibrations at the BIPM
BIPM scientists support NMI and DI scientists in strengthening their radiation measurement capabilities through bilateral comparisons and calibrations at the BIPM.
International partnerships and secondees
International partnerships and secondments bring specialists together to share expertise and strengthen radiation measurement capabilities across the metrology community.
Workshops, webinars and learning resources
Explore practical workshops, expert presentations, webinars and technical explainers connected to dosimetry, radionuclide metrology and radiation protection.
Frequently asked questions
Find quick answers to common questions about the work of the BIPM Ionizing Radiation Department, its measurement programmes and international role.
What does the BIPM Ionizing Radiation Department do?
The BIPM Ionizing Radiation Department develops and maintains international measurement standards and reference systems, provides high-precision comparison and accurate calibration services in radiation dosimetry and radionuclide metrology, and supports international work in neutron metrology through the Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation (CCRI).
What is radiation dosimetry?
Radiation dosimetry concerns the realization, measurement and dissemination of absorbed dose and related radiation dose quantities. Accurate and traceable dosimetry underpins the reliable use and measurement of ionizing radiation across a wide range of applications, including radiotherapy, medical imaging, radiation protection, industry and scientific research.
What is radionuclide metrology?
Radionuclide metrology is concerned with the accurate measurement of radioactivity. Reliable measurements of radionuclide activity support applications including nuclear medicine, environmental monitoring and scientific research.
What is neutron metrology?
Neutron metrology is concerned with the accurate measurement of neutron radiation. Reliable neutron measurements and reference standards support applications including radiation protection, research, industry and emerging medical technologies.
Why are international comparisons important in ionizing radiation?
International comparisons in ionizing-radiation metrology provide evidence that national measurement standards are equivalent and support the international comparability of measurement results. In dosimetry, the BIPM maintains a set of high-accuracy primary standard instruments that provide international reference values against which national standards can be compared. Comparison results support internationally recognized Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) under the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) and are published through the BIPM Key Comparison Database (KCDB).
Where can I find BIPM ionizing-radiation calibration and comparison services?
Information on BIPM ionizing-radiation services is available through the dedicated pages for dosimetry calibrations, dosimetry comparisons and radionuclide metrology comparison services. Results of international comparisons and internationally recognized Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) in dosimetry, radioactivity and neutron measurements can be accessed through the Ionizing Radiation area of the BIPM Key Comparison Database (KCDB).
International scientific coordination
Related Consultative Committee
The Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation (CCRI) brings together experts from National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes to address international measurement needs in ionizing radiation. Its work is organized across three scientific sections covering x- and gamma rays and charged particles, radionuclides, and neutron measurements. The Committee provides the international framework for comparisons, measurement standards and scientific cooperation in these fields.
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