What is the dose limit for whole body exposure recommended for the general public?

What is the dose limit for whole body exposure recommended for the general public?

• A. 0.1 mSv / year
• B. 1 mSv / year
• C. 5 mSv / year
• D. 10 mSv / year

Answer: (B)

The recommended dose limit for whole-body exposure for the general public is 1 mSv per year. This guideline is established by various health organizations, including the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The rationale behind this limit is to minimize the risk of stochastic effects, which are the probability of cancer or genetic mutations developing due to exposure to ionizing radiation. Setting the limit at 1 mSv helps ensure that exposure from all sources—natural background radiation, medical procedures, and any additional radiation from occupational sources—is kept at a level that is considered safe for members of the public, who do not have the same occupational exposure risks as radiation workers. In contrast, higher limits such as 5 mSv or 10 mSv per year are generally applied to radiation workers who are trained and equipped to handle higher doses, as they are subject to additional monitoring and safety measures. The lower limit of 0.1 mSv per year is not widely recognized as a standard for the general public, as it may be impossible to measure and manage exposure at such a low level given that even natural background radiation usually exceeds this threshold. Therefore, the choice of 1 mSv per

The recommended dose limit for whole-body exposure for the general public is 1 mSv per year. This guideline is established by various health organizations, including the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The rationale behind this limit is to minimize the risk of stochastic effects, which are the probability of cancer or genetic mutations developing due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

Setting the limit at 1 mSv helps ensure that exposure from all sources—natural background radiation, medical procedures, and any additional radiation from occupational sources—is kept at a level that is considered safe for members of the public, who do not have the same occupational exposure risks as radiation workers.

In contrast, higher limits such as 5 mSv or 10 mSv per year are generally applied to radiation workers who are trained and equipped to handle higher doses, as they are subject to additional monitoring and safety measures. The lower limit of 0.1 mSv per year is not widely recognized as a standard for the general public, as it may be impossible to measure and manage exposure at such a low level given that even natural background radiation usually exceeds this threshold. Therefore, the choice of 1 mSv per