Effective dose is as meaningless as absorbed dose. One cannot deal with the unit dose until one calculates the number of superoxide anions that are dismutated to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by the body''''''''s ubiquitous superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes upon interaction with the ~80% body water content. Then, one cannot ignore the oxidation of thiol groups on cysteine amino acids by H2O2 that inactivate peroxiredoxins (antioxidants) and also inactivate phosphatases that negatively regulate cell signaling. Because these oxidizing events are reversible, they cause oscillations in the body''''''''s response to ionizing radiation (IR). During the time that peroxiredoxins are inactive, free radicals are not detoxified. During the time phosphatases are inactive, kinases are upregulated. Depending upon which kinase is predominant, pro- or anti- inflammatory cytokines are secreted. The extent of inflammation is affected as well as the ability of the immune system to detect and respond to the damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) generated by photons. These actions are all supported in the inflammation/immunology literature. Until enzymatically-produced H2O2 and its actions are recognized by radiation scientists and its impact calculated, any use of the ''''''''dose unit'''''''' will be meaningless. Worse yet, it detracts scientists from fully exploring immunity to DAMPs as a means of protecting the public.