RADIATION-ATTENUATING SURGICAL GLOVES - EFFECTS OF SCATTER AND SECONDARY-ELECTRON PRODUCTION

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of scatter and secondary electron pro duction on the protection provided by flexible radiation-attenuating g loves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four sets of radiation attenuating flexi ble gloves and one set of standard surgical gloves were tested for sca ttering characteristics and secondary electron production caused by th e interactions of x rays inside the gloves. A thin-window ion chamber was used to measure the penetration of secondary electrons in polyethy lene. A diagnostic-type chamber was used to measure forward-scattered and backscattered x rays produced by the gloves. RESULTS: Forward-scat tered and backscattered x rays added an average of about 13% to the ex posure of the hands. Secondary electrons increased the signal in the t hin-window chamber by large factors but were weakly penetrating, and o nly 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.