Answer to Question #13461 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding — Lead Aprons
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
I tested some lead aprons and decided to expose my hand with an apron on top of it. This was done in the operating room since I work there with a C-Arm. I noticed that even with the apron I can see my hand very well. Are these aprons actually blocking x rays? The aprons were not damaged at all, but it was alarming on how much I can see through the apron.
Lead aprons are designed to absorb or scatter x rays from secondary radiation (e.g., scatter x rays) generated in the patient, table, image receptor, etc. They are not designed to absorb all of the x rays in a primary beam. This is why you are able to use the primary beam of an x-ray unit to test individual aprons for defects. Although you can see things through a lead apron when it is x rayed, it is still very effective at stopping scatter x rays when properly used, as it was intended.
The bigger concern here is that you intentionally placed part of your body in an x-ray beam (even though under a lead apron) without an order from a licensed practitioner. State regulations typically expressly prohibit x raying people without a medical order and from placing any part of your body in the primary x-ray beam unless it is for imaging purposes. Fortunately, the risk from this one incident is minimal, if not zero, however it is not an acceptable practice under the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) philosophy.
I appreciate your questioning mind and your desire to gain additional knowledge, but I recommend that if it comes to placing part of your body in an x-ray beam that you talk to your facility medical physicist or health physicist instead.
Kennith "Duke" Lovins, CHP