The secretariat of United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) expresses its congratulation for this document, which clarifies critical issues regarding the appropriate use of the effective dose. The document addresses also other relevant dose quantities and their relation to the effective dose, thus, a more general title for the report would be more useful for the reader.
The comments provided here are focusing on references made to UNSCEAR Reports:
1. Para 66 on the use of the collective effective dose it is cited that UNSCEAR used this quantity to compare various sources of radiation, which is correct; however, the cited reference (UNSCEAR 2012a) is not comparing different source but explains why UNSCEAR is using the collective effective dose in its evaluations. It would be more fitting to use beside the UNSCEAR 2008 and 2010 Reports also the UNSCEAR 2000 Report and the UNSCEAR 2013a (Fukushima Report).
2. Para 92 on the use of the collective dose in risk assessments. The statement that the collective effective dose is not a tool for epidemiological analysis and the prediction of health effects in populations could be strengthened by adding UNSCEAR 2012a (Attributability Report) to the already cited ICRP 2007a (103 Recommendations).
Thank you for your kind consideration.
UNSCEAR secretariat