Final answer:
The annual occupational full body dose limit recommended by the NCRP is 50 mSv or 5000 mrem for radiation workers. This standard helps to protect the health of workers who may be exposed to ionizing radiation on the job. Understanding this limit and using protective measures like shielding, distance, and time is crucial for radiation safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) recommends an annual occupational full body dose limit. This limit is set to ensure the safety and health of workers who are exposed to ionizing radiation as part of their job. According to the NCRP, this limit is currently set at 50 millisieverts (mSv) or 5000 millirem (mrem) per year for radiation workers.
To put this into perspective, let's consider a scenario where a worker at a nuclear facility is exposed to a whole-body dose of ionizing radiation. If a 50.0-kg person absorbs 1.00 Joule (J) of energy from ionizing radiation over their entire body, their whole-body radiation dose would be calculated. Using the conversion where 1 Gray (Gy) equals 1 J/kg, and 1 Sievert (Sv) equals 100 rem, one can determine the dose absorbed by the individual.
Moreover, it is essential to factor in the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the radiation because different types of radiation have different biological impacts. For instance, the RBE for X-rays is generally set at 1, so the Sv and Gy would be numerically equivalent for X-rays, but for other types of radiation like alpha particles, the RBE could be higher.
Understanding and adhering to these dose limits is critical, as excessive exposure to ionizing radiation can lead to health issues, including increased risks of cancer and genetic defects. The NCRP and regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission offer guidelines to help manage radiation exposure through the use of shielding, maintaining distance from radiation sources, and minimizing exposure time.