| With any treatment in a hospital that | | | | For the most part, x-ray technicians and |
| requires concentrated doses of radiation, it | | | | doctors or nurses involved in the process |
| is important that both the patient and the | | | | operate the machinery from outside of the |
| workers are protected from extra doses, and | | | | room, limiting their exposure. However, |
| from radiation spilling to an area it was not | | | | remaining in the room behind a windowed |
| intended to reach. | | | | radiation barrier allows for greater patient |
| | | | security, as being left alone can often |
| The most familiar example of a common | | | | induce stress in an already stressful |
| treatment using radiation is the use of the | | | | situation. Radiation barriers are also |
| x-ray machine. Many of the pioneers of x-ray | | | | constructed primarily of lead, in combination |
| technology eventually succumbed to cancers | | | | with plastic to provide a window through |
| which were created through exposure to | | | | which the patient can see the professional |
| radiation; this in itself is indicative of | | | | and vice versa. The patient is thus afforded |
| the potential dangers of long term, repeated | | | | some relief from the feeling of total |
| exposure to this type of technology. | | | | isolation. |
| Eventually, it was discovered that high | | | | |
| density lead proved an effective barrier | | | | In recent years, researchers have created |
| against both x-rays and gamma rays, and this | | | | fabrics specifically designed to have the |
| element now constitutes the main component of | | | | same shielding characteristics as lead, |
| most radiation barriers and x-ray shielding. | | | | without the weight. Because it is made of |
| | | | fabric, these shields are much more flexible |
| Shielding is used in any procedure involving | | | | and lighter than the lead aprons that are |
| the use of concentrated rays, from imaging to | | | | used for patient x-rays in most hospitals. |
| radiation therapy. In all hospital x-rays, | | | | While this new development offers greater |
| patients and those in the room with them | | | | comfort to the wearer, both patient and |
| (such as the parents of small children) must | | | | technician, it is significantly more |
| wear an apron during the imaging process. In | | | | expensive than the traditional product, and |
| radiation therapy, the pinpointing of the | | | | is not yet widely used. Considering, though, |
| rays means that radiation shielding is placed | | | | that the new product lasts longer, can be |
| on other parts of the body in order to ensure | | | | recycled, and is safer to handle than |
| no damage to organs and skin not under | | | | lead-based products, one can expect to hear |
| treatment. | | | | more about this exciting development in |
| | | | future. |