Question

Suggest reason why radiation workers are given higher dose exposure limits. Is good or bad? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

As a former radiation worker and radiation safety officer I have some experience in discussing this subject. My response must be relatively short , one could write a book on this subject.
The reason for a difference in allowed radiation exposure for radiation workers and non radiation worker i.e., the general public is reasonable and practical. There are two general classes of radiation effects genetic and somatic . Genetic effects are relevant to the future population of the world, the unborn. Somatic effects are relevant to the actual individual. There are by far more non radiation workers than radiation workers. So when considering genetic effects one should at least try to eliminate or at least minimize as much as practical the exposure to the largest group of persons. This group also gains nothing when expose to radiation but it may have its risk for cancer increased from an exposure. On the other hand radiation worker a much smaller population does benefit from their exposure to radiation by interesting and gainful employment. They, knowing the risks involved, accept them voluntarily just as most of us accept the risks involved in driving motor vehicles.

The use of radiation is highly regulated and monitored by both Federal and State Agencies and represents perhaps one of the safest occupations. Numerous studies of radiation workers have shown no significant difference between the health of radiation worker and the general public. I use the term " no significant difference" not as a hedge but by the fact that all studies are of a statistical nature and are judged by mathematical criteria as to the meaning of the results. By virtue of their work radiation workers are much more likely to be exposed to radiation why? It is virtually impossible to avoid some exposure when working around or with radioactive material or radiation generating equipment. However it can be minimized.
The limit for the general public is fifty times less than that for radiation workers. It is set a a level about equal to the average natural background radiation level. In this country that level could vary by a factor of three from one place to another. Across the planet it could vary by a factor of 100. The limit for the general public is set primarily for those member of the population who by no fault of their own come in contact with radiation from man made sources which for practical reasons cannot be fully contained. It is not meant for every member of the plant who is not a radiation worker. So only a small segment of our planet receives radiation exposures that fall into this range. Many people object to this situation because they wish to fully control their risk especially when confronted with risks which they have an exceptional fear and cannot control. Is it possible to reduce the exposure to the general public from man made sources? Well, certainly but what we give up in doing so may be worse.
The allowed radiation levels for radiation worker is much higher in general but most radiation workers never ever come close to the maximum allowed for any regulatory period of time the smallest being a continuous three month period I.e., a calender quarter. The radiation levels are monitored for each person individually on a monthly basis first to record actual radiation exposure to compare with expected exposure and to detect any changes is work habits or equipment malfunctions. In cases where the monthly radiation exposure might be exceeded in a shorter period of time , real time monitors are used to warn worker of these levels so that they might leave the area or turn off the radiation generators. The net result is that by far most radiation worker receive less than 5% of their allowed exposure. This is primarily due to the operating philosophy that all activities must be carried out so as to reduce exposure to a level As Low As Reasonably Achievable "ALARA". The actual limits for radiation workers are rarely reached and in a practical sense not tolerated in day to day practice.
The ALARA philosophy has bee in effect for about thirty years and is applied to all forms of radiation exposure ; from occupational exposure of radiation workers , to general public exposure, to medical exposures.

Do the remaining exposures have any risk? Perhaps, but it will never to proven for the risks are so small that no study can be made to statistically show this effect with reasonable certainty. Unlike other risk their is no obvious cause and effect relationship as in death or injury by automobile crashes for example. All health effects due to small radiation exposure occur naturally or by other causes as chemical or biological exposure.

I have perhaps exceeded the object of the original question but this topic is an interesting subject impacting many areas of our society from political, to sociological, to economic. the setting of different levels for the general public and radiation workers is neither good or bad in my opinion. It is a solution to a problem of risk versus benefit. It is only one of the multitude of such problems that we have and/or must deal with.