2023 Undergraduate Research Showcase
Title
A Comparison Between Three Different Ways of Shielding from Occupational Radiation
Document Type
Student Presentation
Presentation Date
4-21-2023
Faculty Sponsor
Natalie Mourant
Abstract
The experiment conducted investigated the effectiveness of usage of lead shielding for technologists in healthcare settings against occupational radiation that comes from scatter radiation. According to Calloway (2022), scatter radiation is exit radiation produced in the patient during fluoroscopy, portable radiography, and surgical radiography which exposes those present to occupational ionizing radiation. Shielding refers to the utilization of lead to protect from scattered x-rays during radiologic imaging exams to reduce radiation exposure. It was hypothesized that employing lead shielding during exams would result in increased amount of protection, but effectiveness would vary depending on the position of the patient and the type of shielding being utilized. This scenario was simulated with the use of phantoms, which are specialized objects which mimic the human body. Several different exposures were taken using various types of lead shielding in varying positions with the phantom. The resultant data demonstrated that lead aprons do offer increased protection, albeit not 100% effective. Suggesting it would be beneficial to employ other known measures of protection such as standing at the furthest distance possible from the x-ray beam for the exam and/or selecting lower exposure factors (kilovolts peak (kVp) milliamperage (mAs)) at the console in order to reduce occupational scatter radiation to the technologist.
Recommended Citation
Butler, Madalynn and Mourant, Natalie, "A Comparison Between Three Different Ways of Shielding from Occupational Radiation" (2023). 2023 Undergraduate Research Showcase. 8.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/under_showcase_2023/8