Which organization or body is primarily responsible for setting regulations regarding radiation safety?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the organization primarily responsible for setting regulations regarding radiation safety, particularly in the United States. Its main functions include establishing safety standards for the use of nuclear materials and overseeing their compliance in order to protect public health and the environment from the potential hazards of radiation. The NRC develops regulatory frameworks that govern the possession, use, and disposal of radioactive materials, ensuring that they are handled and stored safely.

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and World Health Organization (WHO) also engage in activities related to radiation safety, their roles are not as directly focused on regulation and enforcement as that of the NRC. The EPA, for example, primarily focuses on environmental protection and may set standards for radiation levels in the environment, while the CDC deals with public health issues more broadly, including those impacted by exposure to radiation. The WHO provides guidance on health-related matters globally, including radiation safety, but it does not set binding regulations for individual countries. Thus, the NRC's specific mandate and authority make it the primary body for regulating radiation safety.