Critical analysis of the existing approach to the calculation of radiation shielding in X-ray rooms

Abstract

The paper demonstrates the limitations of the existing methodology for calculating the radiation shielding of X-ray rooms presented in SanPin 2.6.1.1192-03. It is shown that the algorithm for calculating the attenuation coefficient by the barrier does not take into account the features of the attenuation of different components of X-ray radiation: direct, scattered, and leakage radiation, which differ in the region of occurrence, intensity, energy spectrum, and other parameters. Instead, a single formula is used for all components, and the differences in their attenuation are taken into account by a parameter the values of which for different radiation components are in no way justified and are questionable. The calculation also does not take into account the distribution of the workload of X-ray machines by the tube voltage, the significant attenuation of direct X-ray radiation by additional structures necessary for image acquisition. The values of the radiation output of X-ray machines recommended for shielding design in SanPiN 2.6.1.1192-03 are 2–3 times overestimated in relation to the measured values. This leads to an unreasonable overestimation of the requirements for the thickness of radiation shielding in X-ray rooms and accordingly to suboptimal spending on healthcare. It is necessary to develop a new document to replace SanPiN 2.6.1.1192-03.

Keywords

• radiation shielding barrier
• x-ray room
• attenuation coefficient
• direct radiation
• scatter radiation
• medical investigations