Radiation Safety Practice Exam

How much radiation exposure in mREM corresponds to 2 hours of exposure?

1. 250 mREM

2. 500 mREM

3. 1000 mREM

4. 2000 mREM

The correct answer is: 1000 mREM

To determine how much radiation exposure corresponds to 2 hours, it's essential to understand the context of radiation dose rates, often specified in milli-roentgen equivalent man (mREM) per hour. If the answer is considered to be 1000 mREM for 2 hours, this suggests a dose rate of 500 mREM per hour. For many radiation safety practices, exposure at a rate of 500 mREM per hour is considered high and might occur in specific situations, such as around certain medical imaging equipment, radiological procedures, or accidental high-dose exposure scenarios. Therefore, for 2 hours of continuous exposure at this hypothetical dose rate, the total exposure would indeed amount to 1000 mREM, calculated simply by multiplying the rate (500 mREM/hour) by the duration of exposure (2 hours). This is a straightforward application of dose calculations used in radiation safety to predict total exposure based on the time and rate of radiation exposure. In the context of radiation safety, understanding how exposure levels translate into cumulative doses over time is crucial for maintaining safety standards and ensuring that individuals are not exposed to harmful levels of radiation.