Key words
shielding weight - attenuation - radiation shielding clothing
Introduction
The introduction of lead-free and lead-reduced radiation protection clothing has made
it a matter of importance to determine the attenuation properties of these materials.
The lower mass of lead-free and lead-reduced radiation protection clothing is cited
as a particular advantage.
The protective value of radiation protection clothing is still based on the equivalent
lead thickness. Therefore, the lead attenuation equivalent or the “lead equivalent”
is still specified in “mm Pb”.
However, the determination of this lead equivalent for lead-free or lead-reduced materials
is dependent on the method of measurement. In the case of lead-free and lead-reduced
radiation protection clothing, the lead equivalent depends on the radiation quality,
i. e., on the X-ray tube voltage and the filtration of the X-radiation. In addition,
the measuring arrangement has a significant effect on the result.
The measuring arrangement in the narrow beam according to EN 61331-1 (2002) [1] records the radiation passing through the attenuating material without interaction.
The scattered radiation and fluorescence produced by the material are not recorded
in this measuring arrangement even though they contribute to dose load. Corresponding
studies have already been conducted by Eder et al. [2], Schlattl et al. [3] and McCaffrey et al. [4].
Measurements in the broad beam record the forward scattered radiation and fluorescence.
However, very large material samples are necessary for this measuring arrangement
which makes this method impractical.
Therefore, inverse broad beam geometry was introduced in DIN 6857-1 [5]. The scattered radiation and fluorescence in small material samples can be recorded
with this method. Comparisons by Pichler et al. [6] between measurements in the narrow beam according to EN 61331-1 (2002) and in the
inverse broad beam geometry yielded very different results for the lead equivalents
of lead-free and lead-reduced radiation protection clothing.
The methods listed above were combined into one standard in the new version of IEC
61331-1 (2014) [7]. This new standard describes the procedure for measurements in the narrow and the
broad beam and in the inverse broad beam geometry.
However, several changes were made in IEC 61331-1 (2014). In particular, the filtration
of X-radiation was significantly reduced in IEC 61331-1 (2014) compared to EN 61331-1
(2002) and DIN 6857-1. One standard filtration of 2.5 mm Al is used for all X-ray
tube voltages in IEC 61331-1 (2014).
The goal of this study is to compare the above test methods and to show the effects
on the required masses of radiation protection clothing.
Materials and Methods
The attenuation measurements were performed using the following methods:
-
EN 61331-1 (2002) in the narrow beam with copper filtration, called Cu narrow ([Fig. 1])
-
DIN 6857-1 in inverse broad beam geometry with copper filtration ([Fig. 2]), referred to as Cu inverse
-
IEC 61331-1 (2014) in the narrow beam with aluminum filtration, called Al narrow ([Fig. 1])
-
IEC 61331-1 (2014) in the inverse broad beam geometry with aluminum filtration, called
Al inverse ([Fig. 2])
Fig. 1 Measuring arrangement in the narrow beam according to EN 61331-1 (2002) and IEC 61331-1
(2014).
Fig. 2 Measuring arrangement in the inverse broad beam geometry according to DIN 6857-1
and IEC 61331-1 (2014).
Table 1
Radiation qualities used for the measurements according to EN 61331-1 (2002) and DIN 6857-1
(tube voltages, total filtrations and mean energies).
|
tube voltage
[kV]
|
total filtration
[mm Cu]
|
mean photon energy
[keV]
|
|
40
|
0.05
|
26.0
|
|
50
|
0.08
|
32.3
|
|
60
|
0.10
|
37.2
|
|
80
|
0.15
|
46.8
|
|
100
|
0.25
|
57.0
|
|
120
|
0.40
|
66.4
|
|
150
|
0.70
|
79.2
|
Table 2
Radiation qualities used for the measurements according to IEC 61331-1 (2014) (tube
voltages, total filtrations and mean energies).
|
tube voltage
[kV]
|
total filtration
[mm Al]
|
mean photon energy
[keV]
|
|
50
|
2.5
|
32.1
|
|
70
|
2.5
|
38.8
|
|
90
|
2.5
|
45.2
|
|
110
|
2.5
|
50.6
|
|
130
|
2.5
|
55.2
|
|
150
|
2.5
|
59.3
|
Fig. 3 Backscattered X-ray spectra for a scattering angle of 135° due to the incident direction
of the X-ray beam of the phantom and for a scattering angle of 90° (perpendicular
of the incident beam) and 45° (lateral forward scattering through the phantom) from
Fehrenbacher et al. [9] compared to two X-ray spectra with filtration of 2.5 mm Al and 0.25 mm Cu.
10 different currently available materials for radiation protection clothing were
tested. The test samples consisted of lead (material 1), lead-reduced materials (materials
2 and 10), and lead-free materials (numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). The nominal
lead equivalents are 0.25 mm Pb, 0.35 mm Pb, and 0.5 mm Pb. The material numbers used
here correspond to the numbers used in [Fig. 4], [5] and in [Table 3], [4], [5], [6]. Samples were available in all specified nominal lead equivalent values for some
materials.
Fig. 4 Lead equivalents of 0.25 mm Pb – materials for all four methods of measurement for
lead (material 1) and a lead-reduced material.
Fig. 5 Lead equivalents of 0.25 mm Pb – materials for all four methods of measurement for
lead-free materials.
Table 3
Required masses of front aprons for different materials compared to a lead apron (material
1) in the methods of measurement with Cu filtration in an X-ray tube voltage range
up to and including 150 kV.
|
method of measurement
|
cu-narrow
|
cu-inverse
|
|
test sample
|
actual mass [kg]
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
|
material 1 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.70
|
2.68
|
100 %
|
2.71
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.79
|
3.75
|
100 %
|
3.79
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
5.42
|
5.35
|
100 %
|
5.42
|
100 %
|
|
material 2 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.45
|
2.86
|
107 %
|
2.72
|
100 %
|
|
material 2 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.27
|
3.96
|
106 %
|
3.73
|
98 %
|
|
material 2 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.89
|
5.78
|
108 %
|
5.45
|
101 %
|
|
material 3 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.53
|
3.03
|
113 %
|
2.91
|
107 %
|
|
material 3 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.50
|
4.33
|
116 %
|
4.08
|
108 %
|
|
material 3 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.43
|
6.25
|
117 %
|
5.79
|
107 %
|
|
material 4 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
3.10
|
2.94
|
110 %
|
2.77
|
102 %
|
|
material 4 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.98
|
4.10
|
110 %
|
3.88
|
102 %
|
|
material 4 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
6.10
|
5.93
|
111 %
|
5.61
|
103 %
|
|
material 5 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.16
|
6.81
|
255 %
|
5.14
|
190 %
|
|
material 6 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.25
|
5.88
|
220 %
|
4.37
|
161 %
|
|
material 7 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.20
|
4.17
|
111 %
|
4.43
|
117 %
|
|
material 8 (0.35 mm pb)
|
3.49
|
4.62
|
123 %
|
4.17
|
110 %
|
|
material 9 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
2.84
|
3.70
|
99 %
|
3.80
|
100 %
|
|
material 10 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.27
|
5.87
|
110 %
|
5.57
|
103 %
|
Table 4
Required masses of front aprons for different materials compared to a lead apron (material
1) in the methods of measurement with Al filtration in an X-ray tube voltage range
up to and including 150 kV.
|
method of measurement
|
al-narrow
|
al-inverse
|
|
test sample
|
actual mass [kg]
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
|
material 1 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.70
|
2.69
|
100 %
|
2.69
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.79
|
3.77
|
100 %
|
3.76
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
5.42
|
5.38
|
100 %
|
5.37
|
100 %
|
|
material 2 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.45
|
2.62
|
98 %
|
2.58
|
96 %
|
|
material 2 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.27
|
3.66
|
97 %
|
3.57
|
95 %
|
|
material 2 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.89
|
5.40
|
100 %
|
5.22
|
97 %
|
|
material 3 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.53
|
2.68
|
100 %
|
2.70
|
101 %
|
|
material 3 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.50
|
3.88
|
103 %
|
3.76
|
100 %
|
|
material 3 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.43
|
5.63
|
105 %
|
5.41
|
101 %
|
|
material 4 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
3.10
|
2.69
|
100 %
|
2.62
|
97 %
|
|
material 4 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.98
|
3.81
|
101 %
|
3.67
|
97 %
|
|
material 4 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
6.10
|
5.55
|
103 %
|
5.36
|
100 %
|
|
material 5 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.16
|
4.64
|
172 %
|
5.35
|
199 %
|
|
material 6 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.25
|
3.90
|
145 %
|
4.57
|
170 %
|
|
material 7 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.20
|
4.14
|
110 %
|
4.57
|
121 %
|
|
material 8 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.49
|
4.16
|
110 %
|
4.13
|
110 %
|
|
material 9 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
2.84
|
3.69
|
98 %
|
3.91
|
104 %
|
|
material 10 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.27
|
5.49
|
102 %
|
5.33
|
99 %
|
Table 5
Required masses of front aprons for different materials compared to a lead apron (material
1) in the methods of measurement with Cu filtration in an X-ray tube voltage range
up to and including 100 kV.
|
method of measurement
|
cu-narrow
|
cu-inverse
|
|
test sample
|
actual mass [kg]
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
|
material 1 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.70
|
2.68
|
100 %
|
2.71
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.79
|
3.75
|
100 %
|
3.79
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
5.42
|
5.35
|
100 %
|
5.42
|
100 %
|
|
material 2 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.45
|
2.45
|
92 %
|
2.42
|
89 %
|
|
material 2 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.27
|
3.27
|
87 %
|
3.25
|
86 %
|
|
material 2 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.89
|
4.64
|
87 %
|
4.60
|
85 %
|
|
material 3 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.53
|
2.53
|
95 %
|
2.64
|
98 %
|
|
material 3 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
94 %
|
3.38
|
89 %
|
|
material 3 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.43
|
4.44
|
83 %
|
4.59
|
85 %
|
|
material 4 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
3.10
|
2.44
|
91 %
|
2.39
|
88 %
|
|
material 4 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.98
|
3.27
|
87 %
|
3.30
|
87 %
|
|
material 4 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
6.10
|
4.99
|
93 %
|
4.63
|
85 %
|
|
material 5 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.16
|
6.81
|
255 %
|
5.14
|
190 %
|
|
material 6 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.25
|
5.88
|
220 %
|
4.37
|
161 %
|
|
material 7 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.20
|
3.43
|
92 %
|
4.43
|
117 %
|
|
material 8 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.49
|
3.49
|
93 %
|
4.00
|
106 %
|
|
material 9 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
2.84
|
3.25
|
87 %
|
3.80
|
100 %
|
|
material 10 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.27
|
4.72
|
88 %
|
4.80
|
88 %
|
Table 6
Required masses of front aprons for different materials compared to a lead apron (material
1) in the methods of measurement with Al filtration in an X-ray tube voltage range
up to and including 100 kV.
|
method of measurement
|
al-narrow
|
al-inverse
|
|
test sample
|
actual mass [kg]
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
required mass [kg]
|
comparison to material 1
|
|
material 1 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.70
|
2.69
|
100 %
|
2.69
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.79
|
3.77
|
100 %
|
3.76
|
100 %
|
|
material 1 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
5.42
|
5.38
|
100 %
|
5.37
|
100 %
|
|
material 2 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.45
|
2.31
|
86 %
|
2.47
|
92 %
|
|
material 2 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.27
|
3.17
|
84 %
|
3.29
|
87 %
|
|
material 2 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.89
|
4.55
|
85 %
|
4.65
|
87 %
|
|
material 3 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.53
|
2.44
|
91 %
|
2.70
|
100 %
|
|
material 3 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.50
|
3.19
|
85 %
|
3.44
|
91 %
|
|
material 3 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.43
|
4.40
|
82 %
|
4.61
|
86 %
|
|
material 4 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
3.10
|
2.32
|
86 %
|
2.41
|
90 %
|
|
material 4 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.98
|
3.22
|
85 %
|
3.30
|
88 %
|
|
material 4 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
6.10
|
4.57
|
85 %
|
4.64
|
86 %
|
|
material 5 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.16
|
4.64
|
172 %
|
5.35
|
199 %
|
|
material 6 (0.25 mm Pb)
|
2.25
|
3.90
|
145 %
|
4.57
|
170 %
|
|
material 7 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.20
|
4.14
|
110 %
|
4.57
|
121 %
|
|
material 8 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
3.49
|
3.49
|
93 %
|
4.13
|
110 %
|
|
material 9 (0.35 mm Pb)
|
2.84
|
3.69
|
98 %
|
3.91
|
104 %
|
|
material 10 (0.5 mm Pb)
|
4.27
|
4.71
|
88 %
|
4.83
|
90 %
|
The tests were performed on an X-ray therapy system (X-ray generator CP 225 from X-STRAHL,
X-ray tube MIR-226 from COMET). The anode angle of the X-ray tube is 30°.
A dosimeter, model UNIDOS by PTW, Freiburg, was used for the dose measurements. A
6 ccm shadow-free flat chamber (type 34 069) was used in the narrow beam. For the
measurements in inverse broad beam geometry, a 75 ccm shadow-free flat chamber (type
34 060) was used. Both chambers have a maximum response dependence on the radiation
quality of 2 %. The requirements of IEC 61331-1 (2014) and thus also of the other
testing standards regarding response are therefore met.
The mass was determined for all samples with an LP 1200S-OCE scale from SARORIUS.
The radiation qualities specified in [Table 1] were used to determine the attenuation properties according to EN 61331-1 (2002)
and DIN 6857-1. In contrast, the required total filtration according to IEC 61331-1
(2014) is 2.5 mm Al for all X-ray tube voltages ([Table 2]).
The corresponding pure copper filter or pure aluminum filter was used to generate
the radiation qualities. The inherent filtration of the X-ray tube of 0.8 mm Be can
be ignored here.
The mean photon energies of the X-ray spectra were calculated with the program SpekCalc
[8]. Due to the lower filtration of the radiation qualities with aluminum according
to IEC 61331-1 (2014), the mean photon energies of these X-ray spectra are lower than
those in the case of copper filtrations.
Radiation protection clothing should provide adequate protection primarily against
scattered radiation from the patient.
[Fig. 3] shows the measured spectra of scattered radiation at 100 kV according to Fehrenbacher
et al. [9]. These spectra of scattered radiation were measured using a water phantom with a
filtration of 3.0 mm Al.
In comparison, the X-ray spectra with 2.5 mm Al according to EC 61331-1 (2014) and
with 0.25 mm Cu according to EN 61331-1 (2002) and DIN 6857-1 are shown in [Fig. 3]. These X-ray spectra were calculated with the program SpekCalc.
All spectra listed in [Fig. 3] were standardized to the maximum intensity of bremsstrahlung. The Kα and Kβ X-ray fluorescence lines of the W-anode of the spectra calculated with the program
SpekCalc and the back-scattered fluorescence peak of the spectrum scattered with 135°
are consequently not fully shown in some cases.
Therefore, the bremsstrahlung spectrum can be better compared with the spectra of
scattered radiation determined by Fehrenbacher et al. There are significant differences
between the spectra of scattered radiation and the X-ray spectra with respect to both
the maximum photon energy and the mean photon energy.
The spectra of scattered radiation show a significant dependence on the scattering
angle. The X-ray spectra that were used for the testing of radiation protection materials
are therefore only a rough approximation compared to real conditions.
Reference measurements using pure lead foils with a thickness between 0.05 mm and
1.25 mm lead were used to determine the attenuation equivalents. These reference measurements
can be used to calculate the attenuation equivalent in relation to lead by determining
the attenuation factor of a test sample.
Attenuation factor F is determined by the ratio of measured air kerma values without
test sample K0 to the air kerma values with test sample Kx. The thus determined attenuation factors correspond to the attenuation factors of
the testing standards.
The minimum value for the lead equivalent of a radiation protection apron is defined
differently in the individual standards.
DIN 6857-1 specifies a maximum permissible lower deviation of 7 %. Given a target
value of 0.25 mm Pb, a lead equivalent of at least 0.233 Pb must be achieved. In addition,
this lead equivalent must be maintained in an X-ray tube voltage range of 50 kV to
120 kV.
This is not defined in EN 61331-1. It is only noted in a footnote regarding national
standard DIN EN 61331-3 [10] that the nominal lead equivalents must not fall below the limit by more than 10 %.
However, it is sufficient here to maintain this tolerance at one X-ray tube voltage,
for example 100 kV.
A lower deviation of minus 7 % is also permissible in the new standard IEC 61331-1
(2014). According to this standard, the product description of radiation protection
clothing must state the voltage range of this permissible deviation. Inverse broad
beam geometry is stated as the measurement method of choice in IEC 61331-1 (2014).
Some of the lead equivalents of the measured samples are significantly below as well
as above the permissible lower deviations.
To be able to compare all measurement methods with one another, a standard deviation
of 7 % was selected.
If attenuation factor F at one X-ray tube voltage is greater than 250, the protection
provided by the radiation protection apron is sufficient according to DIN 6857-1 and
IEC 61331-1 (2014) for this radiation quality regardless of the measured lead equivalent.
This basic condition was uniformly used for all measurement methods in the following
evaluations.
The lead equivalent calculated from the attenuation factor has in good approximation
a linear relationship with the mass per unit area mF. The masses per unit area were calculated from the ratio of mass m to area A of the
individual samples.
The required mass per unit area mF for the lower limit value of the lead equivalent was calculated via a linear interpolation
for every measurement method for every measured X-ray tube voltage.
There is one mass per unit area that generates the same attenuation factor as the
corresponding lead at every voltage for each material. The maximum of these masses
per unit area in the considered measurement method is the required mass per unit area
of this material for the targeted lead equivalent.
The mass of a radiation protection apron is calculated from the mass per unit area
of the material multiplied by the area of the protective material.
Thus the masses of radiation protection aprons can be calculated using the required
masses per area unit and compared to one another.
Results
The lead equivalents of the radiation protection materials are specified with a nominal
value of 0.25 mm Pb in [Fig. 4], [5]. The dependence of the lead equivalents on radiation quality for the nominal values
of 0.35 mm Pb and 0.5 mm Pb is very similar and was not separately shown.
For radiation protection materials with a nominal value of 0.25 mm Pb, the attenuation
factors were listed in [Fig. 6] for the lead material (material 1), the lead-reduced material (material 2), and
the lead-free material (material 6). These three materials were selected as examples
to show the major differences in attenuation factors. Only the attenuation factors
for the inverse geometry with Al filtration were specified in [Fig. 6] since this method is to be applied in accordance with IEC 61331-1 (2014) to categorize
radiation protection materials in the usual protection classes of 0.25 mm Pb, 0.35 mm
Pb, and 0.5 mm Pb. These attenuation factors are most comparable with those that would
result in the case of the attenuation of scattered radiation from the patient.
Fig. 6 Attenuation factors of 0.25 mm Pb – materials for the inverse geometry with Al filtration
for lead (material 1), a lead-reduced material (material 2) and a lead-free material
(material 6).
The required masses were calculated for a front apron as an example. The necessary
area is approx. 0.8 m² of the protection material here.
The results of these calculations are listed in [Table 3], [4], [5], [6]. [Table 3], [4] show the calculated required masses of radiation protection aprons for the different
materials using all four measurement methods in an X-ray tube voltage range up to
and including150 kV. The mass values for a lead apron are listed at the top of the
tables.
The percentage of the required mass of a radiation protection apron compared to the
required mass for the minimally required lead equivalent of 0.233 mm Pb of the lead
apron (material 1) is listed in the column next to the required masses. Values greater
than 100 % mean that the mass of the radiation protection apron is greater than a
lead apron.
[Table 5], [6] show the required masses in an X-ray tube voltage range up to and including 100 kV.
For measurements with Al filtration according to IEC 61331-1, the values for 100 kV
were calculated via interpolation.
Discussion
Comparison of measurement methods
[Fig. 4], [5] show that the calculated lead equivalent of the samples depends on the radiation
quality and the measurement method. The studies by Eder et al. and Pichler et al.
also show similar results
For almost all samples, the measurements in the narrow beam show a higher lead equivalent
compared to the methods in inverse geometry at X-ray tube voltages of up to approx.
110 kV. This effect is significantly more pronounced in the case of lead-free materials.
A significant difference between the results of the measurement methods with Cu filtration
and Al filtration was seen in some samples (e. g. material 6). The inverse geometry
measurements with Al filtration show the lowest lead equivalent in the X-ray tube
voltage range of up to approx. 110 kV.
However, in the case of X-ray tube voltages above approximately 110 kV, the lead equivalent
in the narrow beam can be lower than in inverse geometry depending on the material
(refer to materials 2, 3, and 4).
Material 6 achieves the minimum required protection value only in the measurement
method in the narrow beam with Cu filtration in an X-ray tube voltage range of 80 kV
to 100 kV. This value is not achieved in the case of material 5.
These results can be explained by the fact that the absorption coefficient of lead
increases dramatically above the K-absorption edge at 88 keV. The absorption coefficient
is always lower in the case of lead-free materials and lead-reduced materials, which
have a lower lead content, compared to a pure lead material starting at an X-ray tube
voltage of 88 kV. This effect is always more pronounced at higher X-ray tube voltages
since an increasingly greater proportion of the X-ray spectrum has energies above
88 keV.
Due to the lower hardening of the X-ray spectra, the attenuation factors are higher
in measurement methods with Al filtration than those with Cu filtration. An attenuation
factor of 250 is not achieved for the materials shown in [Fig. 6].
Comparison of the required masses
A comparison of the required masses of the radiation protection aprons to a pure lead
apron shows that the use of lead-free or lead-reduced materials allows a maximum mass
reduction of 5 % with the measurement method of inverse geometry with Al filtration
in the entire X-ray tube voltage range to 150 kV (refer to material 2 in [Table 4]).
Higher masses of the radiation protection aprons are required in some cases for the
other materials. If the dependence of the lead equivalent on the X-ray tube voltage
is very pronounced, e. g. in the case of material 6, the required mass for achieving
the minimum required protection value can be more than double the actual mass of the
lead apron in the extreme case.
However, X-ray tube voltages above 100 kV are rarely used in surgery and in angiography.
If the rated range of the aprons is limited to X-ray tube voltages of up to 100 kV,
a mass reduction of up to 18 % for material 3 compared to a lead apron is possible.
The possible mass reduction is lower for the other materials or a higher mass is necessary
for some materials even at X-ray tube voltages of up to 100 kV.
The measurement method plays a major role for some materials in these comparisons.
Therefore, the possible mass reduction is 8 % for material 7 in the measurement method
in the narrow beam with copper filtration according to DIN EN 61331-1 (2002). According
to the new standard IEC 61331-1 (2014), the apron would have to be 21 % heavier to
meet the standard requirements for up to 100 kV in inverse geometry with aluminum
filtration.
The possible mass reduction for the same materials depends not only on the measurement
method and X-ray tube voltage range but also on the nominal lead equivalent (e. g.
material 3).
Materials are currently being tested in the USA according to the standard ASTM F2547
[11]. This standard corresponds largely to the requirements of IEC 61331-1 (2014) for
the narrow beam. The radiation qualities are specified in half-value layers in standard
ASTM F2547. Given an X-ray tube with a W-anode and an anode angle of 17°, the required
aluminum filtration is 4.7 mm Al at an X-ray tube voltage of 60 kV and approx. 6.2 mm
Al at an X-ray tube voltage of 130 kV.
However, compared to the new preferred method of inverse geometry according to IEC
61331-1 (2014), there are significant differences here depending on the material composition
of the radiation protection clothing since the lead equivalent is determined in the
narrow beam and at a different radiation quality according to ASTM F2547.
Another problem with inverse geometry is the incomplete irradiation of the measurement
chamber for the air kerma behind the radiation protection material. All measurement
chambers that meet the requirements of IEC 61331-1 (2014) regarding energy dependence
and repeat accuracy have always been tested for complete homogeneous irradiation of
the entire measurement chamber in type testing. However, the chamber is only partially
irradiated in inverse geometry ([Fig. 2]). It is not yet known whether this will yield comparable results when using different
measurement chambers in different testing devices.
For users of radiation protection aprons, not only sufficient protection but also
the lowest possible mass is advantageous since radiation protection clothing often
has to be worn for numerous hours a day. A maximum tolerance of minus 7 % for the
nominal lead equivalent in the total X-ray tube voltage range of radiodiagnostics
significantly limits the possibilities for reducing the mass of lead-free and lead-reduced
radiation protection materials compared to pure lead materials. Clear classification
of radiation protection materials up to an X-ray tube voltage of 100 kV, for example,
offers a bit of flexibility for lighter radiation protection materials.
Conclusion
Definition of a uniform testing standard seems necessary for both manufacturers and
users of radiation protection materials for the following reasons:
It is not yet known whether the new testing standard IEC 61331-1 (2014) will be able
to become established as an internationally recognized testing standard.
Clinical relevance of the study
-
The attenuation factor and lead equivalent are highly dependent on the measurement
method.
-
The X-ray spectra used in the different measurement methods can only be conditionally
compared to the spectra of scattered radiation from the patient.
-
A reduction of the mass of radiation protection clothing is only possible for a limited
range of use.
