What is the annual dose limit for the skin, hands, and feet?

• A. 0.5 rem (0.005 Sv)
• B. 1.0 rem (0.01 Sv)
• C. 2 rem (0.02 Sv)
• D. 5 rem (0.05 Sv)

Answer: (D)

Annual occupational exposure limits differentiate between protecting the whole body and protecting localized areas. The skin, hands, and feet are exposed in many radiography tasks, and these localized regions can tolerate higher doses than the entire body without causing systemic effects. Because of that, a separate per-year limit is set specifically for these areas. In the standard used for this item, the annual permissible dose to the skin, hands, and feet is five rem (0.05 Sv). This reflects allowing a higher exposure limit for localized tissue while still maintaining safety margins to prevent skin damage or other local effects.