X-ray Shielding
Many barriers such as lead, concrete and other dense materials give effective protection from radiation and energetic particles like gamma rays and neutrons. Some radioactive materials are stored or handled underwater or by remote control in rooms constructed of thick barriers lined with lead. In our modern age, there are special plastic shields which stop beta particles. While simple air will stop alpha particles. The effectiveness of a material in shielding radiation is determined by its calculating it's halve value thicknesses, the thickness of material that reduces the radiation by half. This value is a function of the material, the energy and type of ionizing radiation involved.
Some people wonder why lead aprons are used in X-ray departments by the tech. The reason is because X-ray lead aprons are designed to block the X-ray photons so they don't enter your body. This works because the atoms of lead are very dense and the X-rays are not able to penetrate through. The thickness of the X-ray lead shielding is usually .25mm or .50mm depending on the application and strength of the X-ray beam.
Some exams will not allow lead shielding due to the area of intrest being in a place that the lead would interfer with. Seeing the body part is the reason for the exam and the lead can not block the path of the X-ray beam.
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