Which of the following is a common source of ionizing radiation in the workplace?

Medical x-ray equipment is indeed a common source of ionizing radiation in the workplace, particularly in healthcare settings such as hospitals and clinics. This equipment is used for diagnostic imaging, which involves exposing patients to controlled doses of radiation to create images of the inside of the body. The radiation generated by x-ray machines is classified as ionizing radiation because it has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, which can potentially lead to cellular damage.

Radiological workers in medical environments must be trained to operate this equipment safely and understand the principles of radiation protection to minimize their exposure and that of others. Proper safety protocols, including the use of shielding and monitoring devices, are essential to ensure that radiation levels remain within permissible limits.

Other sources listed, such as nuclear power reactors and radioactive waste storage, are indeed larger sources of ionizing radiation, but they are more specialized and less prevalent in general workplace environments compared to medical x-ray equipment, which is routinely encountered by healthcare professionals. Television screens, particularly old cathode ray tube (CRT) models, produce very low levels of non-ionizing radiation and are not a relevant source of ionizing radiation in the workplace.