Issues raised by the dose equivalent concepts

It is pointed out that a gulf separates the dose equivalent concepts used in risk analysis and those employed in exposure measurement and control. Some of the issues underlying these concepts are discussed, which are such that further modification and development of the concepts must be expected. In particular it is pointed out that when there are no significant gains in terms of protection the objective of equality of risk may need to be abandoned to take account of the need for stable administrative arrangements and the avoidance of costly changes in instrumentation.