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Lead-free transparent shields for diagnostic X-rays: Monte Carlo simulation and measurements

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Abstract

In recent years, the preference for using lead-free radiation protection shields has increased because of concerns regarding lead poisoning and leakage. In medical and research laboratories, glass shields are preferred because of their transparency. In this study, various glass shields were examined and compared based on the international standards. One commercially available lead-based shield, four recently studied shields, and three new lead-free shields were considered, and their shielding factors were calculated. We presented three glasses based on borate, phosphate, and silicate compounds, which were named Ir1, Ir2, and Ir3, respectively. Based on the International Electrotechnical Commission standard (IEC 61331), the air-kerma ratios (attenuation ratios) and lead equivalent values were derived using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX) calculations, and mass attenuation coefficients and effective atomic numbers (Zeff) of all the shields were obtained from XCOM database, in the diagnostic X-ray energy range of 40–120 keV. In addition, some measurements were performed for the reference (lead-based) glass to validate the simulations. The above-mentioned factors for silicate-bismuth-based (Ir3) and borosilicate-barium-based (Tu) glasses were found to be higher than the others and comparable to those of commercially available lead-based glass. In conclusion, Ir3 and Tu glasses were found to be the preferred lead-free transparent shields in the diagnostic X-ray energy range.

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Acknowledgements

This study is a part of M.Sc. thesis of Mr. Milad Karimi with Grant No. 12755-01-01-95. Authors would like to thank Vice Chancellery for research and technology affairs of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) for supporting this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Milad Karimi & Hesameddin Mostaghimi

  2. Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Karim Ghazikhanlou-sani

  3. Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Research Centre, Paramedical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Ali Reza Mehdizadeh

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  1. Milad Karimi
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  2. Karim Ghazikhanlou-sani
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Correspondence to Hesameddin Mostaghimi.

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Karimi, M., Ghazikhanlou-sani, K., Mehdizadeh, A.R. et al. Lead-free transparent shields for diagnostic X-rays: Monte Carlo simulation and measurements. Radiol Phys Technol 13, 276–287 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-020-00580-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-020-00580-5

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