What is the annual whole-body dose limit for occupational exposure?

What is the annual whole-body dose limit for occupational exposure?

• A. 0.5 rem
• B. 5 rem
• C. 50 rem
• D. 500 rem

Answer: (B)

Exposure limits are set to protect workers by capping how much radiation the whole body can receive in a year. For whole-body occupational exposure, the limit is five rem per year, which is about 50 millisieverts (0.05 sievert). This level helps keep cancer risk from radiation low over a working lifetime while still allowing necessary work. Doses much lower than this would be overly restrictive for routine operations, while doses approaching 500 rem would pose serious health risks; 50 rem, while a real limit for some specific organs or tissues, is not the whole-body limit.

Exposure limits are set to protect workers by capping how much radiation the whole body can receive in a year. For whole-body occupational exposure, the limit is five rem per year, which is about 50 millisieverts (0.05 sievert). This level helps keep cancer risk from radiation low over a working lifetime while still allowing necessary work. Doses much lower than this would be overly restrictive for routine operations, while doses approaching 500 rem would pose serious health risks; 50 rem, while a real limit for some specific organs or tissues, is not the whole-body limit.