Design and Development of a Low-Cost, Less Weight, and Lead-Free Composite Materials for Radiation Shielding

Rajagopal, Sivakumar; Anand, Suya Prem

doi:10.1149/10701.0989ecst

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 38 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…Furthermore, research has underscored the adverse health effects experienced by radiation workers who consistently wear lead aprons, including issues such as lower back pain, osteoarthritis, and increased pressure on the lumbar vertebrae (Moore et al 1992, Klein et al 2010. Given the extended duration of these procedures, there has been a growing impetus in research to explore alternative shielding materials that offer more favourable attributes, especially in terms of reduced toxicity, enhanced personnel's flexibility, and decreased weight (McCaffrey et al 2012, Kosaka et al 2019, Rajagopal andAnand 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiation shielding assessment for interventional radiology personnel: Geant4 dosimetry of lead-free compositions

Moradi,

Jalili,

Saraee

et al. 2024

Biomed. Phys. Eng. Express

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The inherent biological hazards associated with ionizing radiation necessitate the implementation of effective shielding measures, particularly in medical applications. Interventional radiology, in particular, poses a unique challenge as it often exposes medical personnel to prolonged periods of high X-ray doses. Historically, lead and lead-based compounds have been the primary materials employed for shielding against photons. However, the drawbacks of lead, including its substantial weight causing personnel’s inflexibility and its toxicity, have raised concerns regarding its long-term impact on both human health and the environment. Barium tantalate has emerged as a promising alternative, due to its unique attenuation properties against low-energy X-rays, specifically targeting the weak absorption area of lead. In the present study, we employ the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation tool to investigate various formulations of barium tantalate doped with rare earth elements. The aim is to identify the optimal composition for shielding X-rays in the context of interventional radiology. To achieve this, we employ a reference X-ray spectrum typical of interventional radiology procedures, with energies extending up to 90 keV, within a carefully designed simulation setup. Our primary performance indicator is the reduction in air kerma transmission. Furthermore, we assess the absorbed doses to critical organs at risk within a standard human body phantom protected by the shield. Our results demonstrate that specific concentrations of the examined rare earth impurities can enhance the shielding performance of barium tantalate. To mitigate X-ray exposure in interventional radiology, our analysis reveals that the most effective shielding performance is achieved when using barium tantalate compositions containing 15% Erbium or 10% Samarium by weight. These findings suggest the possibility of developing lead-free shielding solutions or apron for interventional radiology personnel, offering a remarkable reduction in weight (exceeding 30%) while maintaining shielding performance at levels comparable to traditional lead-based materials.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%