The annual dose limit equivalent for the skin and hands of an occupationally exposed individual is?

The annual dose limit equivalent for the skin and hands of an occupationally exposed individual is?

• A. 1 rem
• B. 50 rem
• C. 100 rem
• D. 5 rem

Answer: (D)

Tissues and areas exposed to radiation have different annual dose limits. For someone with occupational exposure, the skin, hands, and feet can tolerate a higher dose than the whole body, because exposure is often localized and the rest of the body remains less affected. The annual limit for the skin and hands is 50 rem per year. This reflects allowing higher localized doses to these exposed surfaces while still protecting overall health. In contrast, the whole-body limit is 5 rem per year, which is much lower because it represents the dose to the entire body. The 15 rem limit for the lens of the eye is another tissue-specific value, and 100 rem isn’t the standard annual limit for skin/hands in modern guidelines. So the concept is that skin and hands have a higher permissible annual dose (50 rem) than the whole body (5 rem), to account for localized exposure while still maintaining overall safety.

Tissues and areas exposed to radiation have different annual dose limits. For someone with occupational exposure, the skin, hands, and feet can tolerate a higher dose than the whole body, because exposure is often localized and the rest of the body remains less affected.

The annual limit for the skin and hands is 50 rem per year. This reflects allowing higher localized doses to these exposed surfaces while still protecting overall health. In contrast, the whole-body limit is 5 rem per year, which is much lower because it represents the dose to the entire body. The 15 rem limit for the lens of the eye is another tissue-specific value, and 100 rem isn’t the standard annual limit for skin/hands in modern guidelines.

So the concept is that skin and hands have a higher permissible annual dose (50 rem) than the whole body (5 rem), to account for localized exposure while still maintaining overall safety.