Radiation in the workplace is a serious concern, but nuclear shielding products exist to protect workers at medical facilities and nuclear power plants. Canada Metal has been committed not only to providing dosimeters for regulation purposes but also easy-to-use ones that are perfect for various needs.
How Does Radiation Shielding Work?
The goal is to reduce the number of harmful particles that can interact with and destroy your healthy DNA cells. Doing so will help ensure you have a long, happy life full of new opportunities. This process, called attenuation, involves making sure these harmful substances or particles lose intensity as they flow through barriers in our bodies. An example of attenuation is using sunglasses on sunny days to prevent destructive light beams from hindering eyesight.
Blocking Gamma Radiation and X-Rays
Lead aprons, lead blankets, and various other types of lead shielding for radiation are the most effective material to fight off x-rays and gamma-rays. They’re easy to adjust, too; however, make sure not to be careless with your thickness adjustments, and make sure you know exactly what you need because a small number of gamma or x-rays might still get through in an improper adjustment!
Blocking Alpha and Beta Radiation
There is a big difference between lead shielding for radiation and plastic shielding. Lead, being very dense and thick, does not have much of an effect against alpha or beta particles. Plastic, on the other hand, contains properties that allow for greater absorption of these types of rays due to its low weight density. Even a one-inch-thick piece can have amazing results. Even one-inch-thick paper is more useful in radiation shielding against alpha and beta rays than lead is!
Blocking Neutron Radiation
Neutron radiation is a type of ionizing radiation. The best protection against neutron exposure is to use materials with low atomic numbers because they are less dense and can stop the particles from piercing through. Low-density materials, such as hydrogen, will serve this purpose well. Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth, and it’s light enough not to have an adverse effect on normal atmospheric pressure. However, some high-density substances that absorb gamma rays also work by preventing their release. Be sure you know your own needs before making a decision on your nuclear shielding.
Measuring Radiation
As technology continues to advance, more and more places are becoming irradiated. In many workplaces, employees need radiation monitoring in order to protect themselves from absorbing too much. The way this is measured is by a dosimeter that will detect if there are high levels of x-ray or gamma rays present at the facility. If it goes over 400 microsieverts per week, then you’ll need to have increased protection for your workers. Workers can only absorb less than 20 MSV per year on average. This significantly reduces cancer risks.
Also Read: Why Interlocking Lead Bricks Are One Of The Best Materials For Radiation Protection
