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Answer to Question #6406 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding — Shielding The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
Should x-ray entrance doors be completely sealed? The double doors to
one of our x-ray rooms has a gap down the middle. What are the risks,
if any, if x rays are leaked?
A
Yes, x-ray entrance doors should be completely sealed as far as
possible. Imagine the x-ray source to be a lightbulb and the shielding
to be a light-tight box. If the lightbulb is enclosed in a light-tight
box, no light can be seen outside the box. If a slit is made in one
side of the box, then the light can be seen outside. As the dimensions
of the slit are increased, more light is seen outside.
Depending upon where the x-ray source is located in the room, direct
radiation or scattered radiation can stream out of the door, thus one
risks having x-ray dose rates outside the gap that may exceed design
and regulatory limits. The problem worsens as the width of the gap
increases. I would suggest that the doors be fitted with overlapping
lead or steel to mitigate this problem.
Answer posted on 22 June 2007. 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.
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