ALARA stands for?

• A. As Long As Radiation Allows
• B. As Light As Reasonably Appealing
• C. As Low As Reasonably Achievable
• D. All Levels Are Reasonably Achievable

Answer: (C)

ALARA is the radiation protection principle of keeping doses as low as reasonably achievable. It means we aim to minimize exposure to ionizing radiation, but we do so with a practical mindset—balancing the level of protection with what is feasible, affordable, and socially acceptable. In practice, this drives us to implement shielding, maximize distance, shorten exposure time, use administrative controls, and continually review and improve protective measures. The key idea is to reduce dose as much as reasonably possible, without pursuing impractical or uneconomical measures.

The other options don’t fit because they don’t reflect the established terminology or the optimization mindset. The proper expansion is As Low As Reasonably Achievable.