Recent history of the shielding of medical x-ray imaging facilities.

Since the discovery of x rays by Roentgen in 1895, a progression of reports containing recommendations to reduce the hazards from this "invisible light" have been published. These reports, generated by a number of expert national and international bodies, issued ever-evolving protection guidelines for shielding radiation workers and members of the public from the potential health effects of this radiation. In recent years, significant changes have been made in the recommended dose limits, and a number of articles that provide updated shielding data, parameters, and methodologies for x-ray imaging facilities have been published. Scientific Committee 9 (SC9) of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) (formed with the support of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine), was given the charge of reviewing the literature and updating the NCRP shielding recommendations for x rays used for medical imaging purposes (i.e., for diagnostic and interventional procedures). This article focuses on the new data and models presented in these recent publications and on the recommendations of the current NCRP report, produced by SC9, for the design of radiation barriers in medical imaging facilities.

[1]  M. Vannier.  Radiation Shielding for Diagnostic X-rays , 2001 .

[2]  S. Langer,et al.  Radiation shielding implications of computed tomography scatter exposure to the floor. , 1998, Health physics.

[3]  D. Simpkin,et al.  Secondary shielding barriers for diagnostic x-ray facilities: scatter and leakage revisited. , 1998, Health physics.

[4]  D J Simpkin,et al.  Primary shielding barriers for diagnostic x-ray facilities: a new model. , 1998, Health physics.

[5]  D. Simpkin.  Evaluation of NCRP Report No. 49 assumptions on workloads and use factors in diagnostic radiology facilities. , 1996, Medical physics.

[6]  D J Simpkin,et al.  Scatter radiation intensities about mammography units. , 1996, Health physics.

[7]  C. A. Willis,et al.  History of the medical uses of radiation: regulatory and voluntary standards of protection. , 1995, Health physics.

[8]  E W Webster,et al.  X rays in diagnostic radiology. , 1995, Health physics.

[9]  J A Seibert,et al.  One hundred years of medical diagnostic imaging technology. , 1995, Health physics.

[10]  B. Archer,et al.  History of the shielding of diagnostic x-ray facilities. , 1995, Health physics.

[11]  T. Fewell,et al.  Radiation protection requirements for medical x-ray film. , 1995, Medical physics.

[12]  D J Simpkin,et al.  Transmission data for shielding diagnostic x-ray facilities. , 1995, Health physics.

[13]  R. Dixon.  On the primary barrier in diagnostic x-ray shielding. , 1994, Medical physics.

[14]  T. R. Fewell,et al.  Attenuation properties of diagnostic x-ray shielding materials. , 1994, Medical physics.

[15]  W. Hendee.  History, current status, and trends of radiation protection standards. , 1993, Medical physics.

[16]  D. Kocher.  Perspective on the Historical Development of Radiation Standards , 1991, Health physics.

[17]  D J Simpkin,et al.  Shielding a spectrum of workloads in diagnostic radiology. , 1991, Health physics.

[18]  D. Simpkin.  Shielding requirements for mammography. , 1987, Health physics.

[19]  D. Simpkin.  A general solution to the shielding of medical x and gamma rays by the NCRP Report No. 49 methods. , 1987, Health physics.

[20]  S C Bushong,et al.  Diagnostic X-ray shielding design based on an empirical model of photon attenuation. , 1983, Health physics.

[21]  J. P. Kelley,et al.  Scattered radiation from a tissue-equivalent phantom for x rays from 50 to 300 kVp. , 1972, Radiology.

[22]  R. Sievert,et al.  Book Reviews : Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (as amended 1959 and revised 1962). I.C.R.P. Publication 6. 70 pp. PERGAMON PRESS. Oxford, London and New York, 1964. £1 5s. 0d. [TB/54] , 1964 .