mean marrow dose

mean marrow dose (MMD)

the estimated average annual somatic radiation received by each person in the United States. The figure is 77 mrad and represents a weighted average for people exposed to radiation and those not exposed during the period. It is expressed in terms of bone marrow because irradiation of that tissue is assumed to be a cause of leukemia.

mean marrow dose

Abbreviation: MMD

An estimated measure of average radiation exposure given to the blood-forming progenitor cells of the bone marrow, e.g., in whole body radiation treatment. The percentage of active bone marrow in the useful beam is multiplied by the average absorbed dose.

See also: dose