L K Wagner1, O R Mulhern. 1. Department of Radiology, University of Texas Houston Medical School 77030, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of scatter and secondary electron production on the protection provided by flexible radiation-attenuating gloves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four sets of radiation-attenuating flexible gloves and one set of standard surgical gloves were tested for scattering characteristics and secondary electron production caused by the interactions of x rays inside the gloves. A thin-window ion chamber was used to measure the penetration of secondary electrons in polyethylene. A diagnostic-type chamber was used to measure forward-scattered and backscattered x rays produced by the gloves. RESULTS: Forward-scattered and backscattered x rays added an average of about 13% to the exposure of the hands. Secondary electrons increased the signal in the thin-window chamber by large factors but were weakly penetrating, and only a small fraction produced by x rays of 90 kVp and higher energies contributed to dose to basal cells. CONCLUSION: Forward-scattered and backscattered x rays reduce the effectiveness of radiation-attenuating gloves, and secondary electron dose to basal cells in the back of the hand can further reduce effectiveness.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of scatter and secondary electron production on the protection provided by flexible radiation-attenuating gloves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four sets of radiation-attenuating flexible gloves and one set of standard surgical gloves were tested for scattering characteristics and secondary electron production caused by the interactions of x rays inside the gloves. A thin-window ion chamber was used to measure the penetration of secondary electrons in polyethylene. A diagnostic-type chamber was used to measure forward-scattered and backscattered x rays produced by the gloves. RESULTS: Forward-scattered and backscattered x rays added an average of about 13% to the exposure of the hands. Secondary electrons increased the signal in the thin-window chamber by large factors but were weakly penetrating, and only a small fraction produced by x rays of 90 kVp and higher energies contributed to dose to basal cells. CONCLUSION: Forward-scattered and backscattered x rays reduce the effectiveness of radiation-attenuating gloves, and secondary electron dose to basal cells in the back of the hand can further reduce effectiveness.
Authors: Donald L Miller; Eliseo Vañó; Gabriel Bartal; Stephen Balter; Robert Dixon; Renato Padovani; Beth Schueler; John F Cardella; Thierry de Baère Journal: Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol Date: 2009-12-18 Impact factor: 2.740