Re: lead apron thicknesses

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

>Date:         Wed, 20 May 1998 08:04:34 EDT
>Reply-To: Medical Physics Mailing List <MEDPHYS@LISTS.WAYNE.EDU>
>Sender: Medical Physics Listserver <medphys@lists.wayne.edu>
>From: SBalter <SBalter@AOL.COM>
>Subject:      Re: lead apron thicknesses
>To: MEDPHYS@LISTS.WAYNE.EDU
>
>The purpose of lead aprons, and all other protective gear is to reduce
>effective dose (E) to ALARA.  In addition to Webster's model, there is new
>information in NCRP 122 for estimating E under fluoro conditions.
>
>The only thing limiting the thickness and weight of lead aprons is the
>occurrence of orthopedic (mainly spinal disk) injury in the wearers. There is
>an article to that end in the Jan 97 JACC (sorry that the reference is not at
>hand).
>
>My proposal is a double badge system. Use an apron thin enough to provide a
>reading just over minimum for the busiest month. Using 122, this should yield
>an effective dose (E) less than 1 mSv/y.  I think that this is the best
>balance point between the radiological and mechanical dangers.
>
>Waiting for comments.
>
>Steve Balter
>
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