Rethinking Annual Dose Limits: A Biologically Based Critique of Radiation Protection Standards

Annual dose limits provide a practical basis for radiation protection, but a calendar year is not necessarily a biologically meaningful interval. Cellular repair, adaptive responses, and dose-rate effects may alter outcomes when the same total dose is delivered in different patterns. Conversely, rapid repair of measurable damage does not establish the absence of delayed effects or justify higher permissible doses. We propose research into temporally resolved exposure metrics that could complement cumulative dose accounting. Any regulatory change would require evidence linking exposure patterns to relevant health outcomes.