What type of exposure does a personal dosimeter measure?

A personal dosimeter is specifically designed to measure occupational radiation exposure, which refers to the radiation dose received by individuals working in environments where they may be exposed to ionizing radiation. This tool is crucial for monitoring the safety of workers in fields such as healthcare, nuclear power, and research, ensuring that their exposure remains within safe and permissible limits.

By focusing on occupational exposure, personal dosimeters provide valuable information about a worker's radiation exposure over time, helping to assess risk and implement safety measures. They typically track cumulative doses from all applicable sources of radiation in the workplace, which can include alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. However, the primary intent of these devices is to safeguard employees by measuring the amount they are actually receiving in their professional environment.

This makes occupational radiation exposure the most pertinent and specific type of measurement that personal dosimeters are designed to assess, leading to the conclusion that this is the correct answer. Other types of exposure might be considered in a broader context, but the dosimeter's main purpose relates to monitoring the radiation dose for workers specifically in their job settings.