Which of the following is true about the cumulative effective dose for radiation workers?

The cumulative effective dose for radiation workers is an important concept related to their long-term exposure to radiation. The correct response indicates that this dose increases with both age and years of service. As radiation workers gain more experience and continue working over the years, their total exposure to radiation accumulates. This cumulative effective dose reflects all the radiation received over time, which is critical for monitoring health risks associated with radiation exposure.

In many guidelines, such as those from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), it is noted that the cumulative dose should be assessed regularly to ensure that workers are not exceeding safe exposure limits. This cumulative effect highlights the importance of monitoring and managing radiation exposure throughout a worker's career. As age and service years increase, so does the potential for greater radiation exposure, thereby justifying why the cumulative effective dose increases with age and years in the profession.

Other options propose scenarios that do not align with the principles of radiation dose accumulation. For instance, suggesting that the cumulative dose remains constant or decreases after a certain age does not reflect the reality of how radiation exposure works over time.