Shielding is the use of materials to protect against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation by absorbing or blocking its passage. It is crucial in medical applications to protect both patients and healthcare providers.
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Lead is a common material used for shielding due to its high density and effectiveness at blocking gamma rays and X-rays.
The thickness of the shielding material must be appropriate for the type and energy of radiation being blocked.
Shielding reduces exposure by attenuating the intensity of the radiation through absorption or scattering.
In medical settings, shielding is often employed in protective garments such as lead aprons and thyroid collars during radiographic procedures.
The effectiveness of a shielding material is often quantified by its half-value layer (HVL), which is the thickness required to reduce radiation intensity by half.