Which agencies monitor radiation exposure in the United States, depending on context?

• A. CDC, NIH, WHO
• B. NRC, FDA, EPA
• C. OSHA, DOT, FDA
• D. NASA, EPA, FDA

Answer: (B)

Understanding how radiation exposure is monitored in the United States depends on the context: nuclear facilities and materials, medical or consumer sources of radiation, and the environment.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversees safety, licensing, and compliance for nuclear power plants and other licensed nuclear materials. They set and enforce dose limits for workers and the public at those facilities, ensuring radiation is managed through engineering controls and administrative practices.

Food and Drug Administration handles radiation in medical use and in consumer/product applications. This includes radiological procedures in medicine (like diagnostic imaging and radiopharmaceuticals) and the irradiation of foods or sterilization of medical devices, with safety standards and labeling to protect patients and consumers.

Environmental Protection Agency monitors environmental radiation and protects the public from environmental exposures. They guide monitoring of radon, ambient radiation in air and water, and oversee remediation and disposal strategies for radioactive waste, contributing to nationwide environmental radiation safety.

Other agencies, such as OSHA or DOT, have roles in specific situations (like workplace safety or transport of radioactive materials), but the trio above best covers the main contexts in which radiation exposure monitoring occurs.