What is the occupational dose limit for radiation workers in the U.S.?

The occupational dose limit for radiation workers in the U.S. is set at 5 rems per year. This limit is established by regulatory agencies, including the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to ensure the safety and health of workers who are regularly exposed to ionizing radiation in their jobs.

Setting the limit at 5 rems allows for a balance between the need for workers to perform their roles effectively and the importance of minimizing radiation exposure to reduce the risk of potential adverse effects, such as cancer or other radiation-induced conditions. This limit is also in line with guidelines focused on protecting workers while enabling them to carry out necessary tasks in fields like medicine, research, and nuclear energy.

In context, other dose limits mentioned in the options are either set too low or too high. A limit of 10 rems would exceed the recommended threshold, potentially increasing health risks, while 1 rem would be too conservative for occupational exposures. A limit of 50 rems is considered excessively high and does not reflect the priority of radiation safety in the workplace. Therefore, the chosen limit of 5 rems per year aligns with established protocols for maintaining worker safety while allowing for