A HISTORY OF RADIATION SHIELDING OF X-RAY THERAPY ROOMS

Citation
Ph. Mcginley et Ms. Miner, A HISTORY OF RADIATION SHIELDING OF X-RAY THERAPY ROOMS, Health physics, 69(5), 1995, pp. 759-765
Citations number
61
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Journal title
ISSN journal
00179078
Volume
69
Issue
5
Year of publication
1995
Pages
759 - 765
Database
ISI
SICI code
0017-9078(1995)69:5<759:AHORSO>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
In this report the history of shielding for radiation treatment rooms is traced from the time of the discovery of x rays to the present. Dur ing the early part of the twentieth century the hazards from ionizing radiation were recognized and the use of lead and other materials beca me commonplace for shielding against x rays. Techniques for the calcul ation of the shield thickness needed for x-ray protection were develop ed in the 1920's and shielding materials were characterized in terms o f the half value layer or simple exponential factors. At the same time , better knowledge of the interaction between radiation and matter was acquired. With the development of high energy medical accelerators af ter 1940, new and more complex shielding problems had to be addressed. Recently, shielding requirements have become more stringent as standa rds for exposure of personnel and the general public have been reduced . The art of shielding of radiation treatment facilities is still bein g developed and the need for a revision of the reports on shielding of medical accelerators from the National Council on Radiation Protectio n and Measurements is emphasized in this article.