What is the unit commonly used to report occupational dose to radiation workers in the United States?

The unit commonly used to report occupational dose to radiation workers in the United States is the rem. This unit is a measure of the biological effect of ionizing radiation on human tissue, taking into account the type of radiation as well as the dose received. The rem is particularly significant in the field of radiation protection and safety, as it helps to assess the potential health risks that workers may experience due to exposure to radiation in their occupational environment.

Other units like Gray and Rad are primarily used to quantify the absorbed dose of radiation, meaning they measure the amount of radiation energy absorbed by tissue, but they do not factor in the biological effectiveness of that radiation. The Roentgen, while it measures exposure to ionizing radiation, is also not directly utilized for occupational dose calculations because it does not account for the biological impact of the radiation. Therefore, rem is preferred when assessing and reporting the occupational dose with respect to risk and protection measures for workers in radiological settings.