What is the annual dose limit for occupational exposure?

The annual dose limit for occupational exposure is set at 50 REM (or 500 mSv) as recommended by regulatory bodies such as the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and established under guidelines from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This limit applies specifically to radiation workers and is designed to ensure their safety in a work environment where they may be exposed to ionizing radiation as part of their job responsibilities, such as in medical, industrial, or research settings.

The rationale behind establishing this limit is to minimize the risk of radiation-induced health effects, including cancer and other tissue damage, while allowing for the necessary exposure that comes with working in radiation-related fields. The values for the other choices—5 REM, 15 REM, and 30 REM—are lower thresholds that may refer to other specific guidelines or recommendations for certain groups such as the general public or for different scenarios in radiation safety but do not represent the standard limit for radiation workers.