What is the primary goal of radiation protection principles?

The primary goal of radiation protection principles is to minimize radiation exposure to individuals. This is essential because exposure to radiation can have harmful effects on health, including an increased risk of cancer and other diseases. The principles of radiation protection are structured around three key concepts: justification, optimization, and limitation.

Justification ensures that any activity involving radiation is necessary and beneficial, optimizing means managing exposure to keep it as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), while limitation sets dose limits to protect individuals from excessive exposure. By focusing on reducing unnecessary exposure, these principles aim to safeguard the health and well-being of workers, patients, and the general public from potential radiation hazards.

Maximizing radiation use in industry, enhancing radioactive waste management, and promoting nuclear energy research are not primary goals of radiation protection principles. Instead, they may be part of broader discussions within the field, but they do not directly address the core aim of protecting individuals from radiation exposure.