Beyond Lead Aprons: Exploring Advanced Materials in Radiation Protection Products
Radiation protection is a vital concern for healthcare professionals and patients who are exposed to ionizing radiation during various medical procedures, such as X-rays, fluoroscopy, and interventional radiology. For decades, lead aprons have been the standard protective garment used to shield the body from harmful radiation. However, lead aprons have several drawbacks, such as being heavy, inflexible, toxic, and prone to cracks. These disadvantages can affect the comfort, mobility, safety, and performance of the users. Fortunately, advances in materials science have led to the development of alternative materials that offer comparable or superior radiation protection while overcoming the limitations of lead. These materials are typically a combination of elements with high atomic numbers, such as tin, antimony, bismuth, titanium, magnesium, and tungsten. They are incorporated into lightweight and flexible fabrics that can be tailored to various types of protective garments, suc...