Radiation Safety Manual Glossary - (W)

Weighting Factor (WT)

for an organ or tissue (T) is the proportion of the risk of stochastic effects resulting from irradiation of that organ or tissue to the total risk of stochastic effects when the whole body is irradiated uniformly. Presently, the organ dose weighting defined by the NRC and the ICRP differ.

Whole Body

for purposes of external exposure, head, trunk (including male gonads), arms above the elbow, or legs above the knee.

Wipe (smear or wipe test)

a procedure in which a swab, e.g., filter paper or cotton tipped applicator, is rubbed on a surface and its radioactivity measured to determine if the surface is contaminated with loose (removable) radioactive material.