Physics Bucharest 2017

Shielding

NCRP 49-151

• Aim: to limit radiation exposure to acceptable levels and optimize protection of staff, patients, visitors and the public • It is a 3D problem → wall and ceiling materials and thicknesses - critical areas close: radiology, nuclear medicine • Different considerations are required for: superficial/orthovoltage X Ray units, simulators, CT, cobalt 60 units, linear accelerators (TBI-IMRT- SRT), Brachytherapy, Hadrontherapy • 3 steps procedure: i) establishing a design value for the effective dose in the occupied area, ii) estimating the radiation field in the area if there were no shielding, iii) obtaining the attenuation factor required to go from ii) to i)