Chapter 24.4, Problem 32SSC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The amount of an average radiation dose received by a lab worker each month is 21 mrem. The allowed dose is 5000 mrem/y. The fraction of the yearly dose she received needs to be determined.

Concept introduction:

A radiation dose is refers to the radiation amount that is absorbed from a source. The units of amount of radiation are rad and rem. Here, rad refers to the radiation absorbed dose. This is the amount of radiation obtained from the absorption of 0.01 J energy per kg of tissue. When the dose in rads is multiplied by numerical factor, rem is obtained.

Explanation of Solution

The average value received per month is 21 mrem, this can be converted into per year as follows:

$X=\frac{21\text{ mrem}}{1\text{ month}}\left(\frac{\text{12 month}}{1\text{ year}}\right)=252\text{ mrem/y}$

Now, the allowed value is 5000 mrem/y thus, the fraction will be:

$F=\frac{252\text{ mrem/y}}{5000\text{ mrem/y}}=0.0504$

Thus, the fraction of her yearly dose she receives is 0.0504.