Gamma rays protection against

Protection Against Radiations from Sealed Gamma Sources (1960). [Superseded by NCRP Reports Nos. 33, 34, and 40] 26 Medical X-Ray Protection Up to Three Million Volts (1961). [Superseded by NCRP Reports Nos. 33, 34, 35, and 36]... 

At present, only one way may constitute a real protection against radiation, that is the physical protection. This method uses screens in order to efficiently attenuate the radiation. The various types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma- and X-rays) having different penetration capacity in the matter, then various screens are thus necessary (Fig. 1). 

The advent of efficient high-resolution gamma-ray detectors during the past decade has nearly eliminated the tedious radiochemical separation of each trace element from all others which was once necessary, although group separations are often a powerful aid to specificity and sensitivity. If the matrix itself is the major contributor to the activity (as with Ge or most III-V compounds), safety precautions may be necessary to protect the chemist against radiation. Many procedures have been published for matrix removal and for the separation of trace constituents (29.3.2.30). Ga, Ge,... 

Lead is a soft, malleable, and corrosion resistant material. Lead s high density makes it useful as a shield against x-ray and gamma-ray radiation and is used in x-ray machines and nuclear reactors. Lead is also used as a covering on some wires and cables to protect these from corrosion, as a material to absorb vibration and sound, and in the manufacmre of ammunition. Today most of the lead is used in production of lead-acid storage batteries, such as the batteries in automobiles. 

Use shielding when possible to do so. A piece of plastic that is 0.5-inch thick will protect against most beta particles (depending on energy). Lead shields are the best for gamma and X-ray radiation. 

Sarma, L., and Kesavan, P. C., 1993, Protective effects of vitamins C and E against gamma-ray induced chromosomal damage in mouse, Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 63 759-764. 

Elements with high atomic weights are especially suitable as absorbers for X-rays and gamma radiation. For that reason, lead has an important use as protection against radiation in laboratories and hospitals in which X-ray methods are utilized, and lead protection is used in the nuclear industry. Lead foils are used, for similar reasons, for packing of radioactive preparations and X-ray films. 

Protective clothing and other PPE can effectively guard against ingestion or absorption of radioactive material but is not usually practical for protecting against x-rays or gamma rays. 

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