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07 November 2009

Answer to Question #3110 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding — Shielding

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Is there any radioactivity in the shielding lead in an x-ray room or is there any contamination of the air in it?

X-ray facilities typically operate at only a few hundred kVp so if your facility operates at these low potentials there is no chance for activation of the lead through any type of photonuclear reaction as the available energies are much too low. The threshold for most photonuclear reactions is at least 8.0 MeV. Your device is most likely three orders of magnitude too low in energy for photonuclear reaction consideration. I would not concern myself with the contamination of lead by radioactive material generated by photonuclear reactions.

If the lead was somehow recycled and had been contaminated with radioactive material during past uses this may be an issue. However, if recycled, it most likely would have been melted down and repoured into new shapes. If this is the case any radioactive material entrained in the lead would not be easily removable and again would not be a concern.

Handling lead, however, may be a cause for the generation of airborne lead. As an elemental toxin, lead is a teratogen and should be handled with caution. I would advise a review of the OSHA lead standard prior to engaging in any demolition work involving this facility.

Richard R. Brey, CHP, PhD

Answer posted on 5 November 2003. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.