What does ALARA stand for?

• A. As Low As Reasonably Achievable
• B. As Low As Radiation Allows
• C. Always Limit And Reduce Activity
• D. Average Levels Are Regulated Annually

Answer: (A)

ALARA is a radiation protection principle that aims to keep exposure to ionizing radiation as low as reasonably achievable, considering economic and social factors, available technology, and practicality. In radiography this means always seeking the smallest amount of radiation that still yields a diagnostically useful image. You achieve this through careful technique, proper shielding and collimation, maximizing distance when possible, using appropriate exposure settings, and minimizing repeats. The other phrases do not reflect this idea: exposure isn’t something we let happen by default, and ALARA isn’t about regulating averages or endlessly limiting activity, but about optimization to reduce dose while preserving diagnostic quality.