What is the maximum permissible fetal dose for a declared pregnant worker?

• A. 0.5 rem (5 mSv)
• B. 5 rem (50 mSv)
• C. 0.05 rem (0.5 mSv)
• D. 1 rem (10 mSv)

Answer: (A)

When a worker declares pregnancy, the fetus is treated as more radiosensitive, so exposure limits are specifically lowered to protect development. The allowable cumulative dose to the embryo/fetus is 5 mSv (0.5 rem) for the duration of the pregnancy after declaration. This value is much smaller than the typical occupational limit for adults and is enforced through measures like reassigning duties away from radiation, maximizing shielding and distance, and using a fetal dosimeter to ensure the limit isn’t exceeded. The other options either represent too large or too small a dose for fetal protection and don’t align with the goal of minimizing fetal radiation risk.