Why does lead block radiation

Nevertheless, some patients may insist on shielding. An estimated million medical X-ray exams were performed in the U. She is doing her part. By Mary Chris Jaklevic January 15, You must credit us as the original publisher, with a hyperlink to our khn. Please preserve the hyperlinks in the story. Have questions? Let us know at KHNHelp kff. How Low Can They Go?

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Thank you! Designing and building radiation shielding can pose a variety of challenges, such as limitations on space, price, weight, and installation. Lead is used in the construction, nuclear power, non-destructive testing, academic, and medical fields for radiation protection and shielding. Lead is a soft metal that can be easily scratched or dented. Being ductile and malleable makes lead very easy to work with. It is a very dense metal with a density of Lead has a melting point of o C which makes it an ideal metal to cast.

There are many different alloys and purities of lead available. The lead is refined to reach this level of purity. Antimony is a common metal alloyed with lead to increase hardness and mechanical strength. Lead is toxic and can accumulate within the body if proper precautions are not taken. Encapsulating the lead in metal, plastic, or paint will greatly reduce the risk of lead exposure.

Now medical professionals have several options when it comes to selecting their radiation shielding garments. Lead composite shielding is a mixture of lead and other lighter weight metals. These lead-based composite blends are a proprietary mixture of lead and other heavy metals that attenuate radiation.

The lead composite blend will vary by manufacturer as they have developed their own proprietary blends that may include a mixture of lead, tin, rubber, PVC vinyl and other proprietary attenuating metals. Similar to the proprietary blends of lead-based composite shielding materials the non-lead and lead-free shielding materials offer the same protection levels.

Non-lead shielding materials are manufactured with additives and binders mixed with attenuating heavy metals that fall into the same category of materials as lead that also absorb or block radiation.

These metals may include tin Sn , antimony Sb , tungsten W bismuth Bi or other elements. Non-lead aprons and lead-free aprons are recyclable and safe for non-hazardous disposal.