Abstract
A collection of personal protective equipment (PPE), suitable for use in case of accident in nuclear facilities or radiological emergencies, was gathered at the National Institute for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection, Czech Republic. The shielding characteristics of the various PPE materials were measured via narrow geometry spectral attenuation measurements with point radionuclide sources covering a broad range of photon energies. Photon relative penetration and attenuation for relevant energies of the spectra were the principal experimentally determined quantities for tested PPE. Monte Carlo simulations in the MCNPX™ code were carried out to determine photon attenuation for respective energies in the tested PPE, and the results were compared to those determined experimentally. Energy depositions in a unit volume of an ORNL phantom were simulated in a radioactive aerosols atmospheric environment to determine effective doses both for the whole body and in various organs in the human torso during exposure to different dispersed radioactive aerosols while wearing one of the PPE protecting against X- and gamma-ray. This work aimed to determine the effective dose and its decrease for individual PPE protecting against X- and gamma-ray.
Highlights
Some samples of personal protective equipment (PPE), protecting against X- and gamma-ray, were collected and tested at the National Institute for NBC Protection (SUJCHBO v.v.i.), Czech Republic. is type of PPE can be used by first responders in emergencies such as an accident during radioactive material transportation, terrorist incidents involving radiological dispersal devices (RDD) or nuclear weapons, or by specialised emergency response workers during accidents in nuclear facilities
Determined mean lead equivalents for individual PPE protecting against X- and gamma-ray, together with a reference PPE without a shielding layer and a reference lead sheet, are presented in Figure 3. e mean lead equivalent for the DEMRON improvised explosive devices (IEDs) RDD Shield was not determined due to a strong build-up factor in the thick material, inversely depending on penetrating photon energy
From the mean lead equivalent values of tested PPE samples, it is evident that the higher the density thickness of a tested sample, the higher its lead equivalent (Figure 3 and Table 1). e mean lead equivalent of some of the tested PPE protecting against X- and gamma-ray does not even meet the requirements of 0.35 mm, respectively, 0.25 mm, for the lead equivalent of heavy protective aprons, respectively, light protective aprons, used by radiological operators, respectively, used in operating rooms, and specified by CENELEC 1999 [12]
Summary
Some samples of personal protective equipment (PPE), protecting against X- and gamma-ray, were collected and tested at the National Institute for NBC Protection (SUJCHBO v.v.i.), Czech Republic. E authors are not aware of any other published studies concerning X- and gamma-ray attenuation in PPE. Relative penetration and attenuation of X- and gammaray, penetrating the samples and originating from different radionuclide point sources, were determined for a broad energy range, together with mass attenuation coefficients, which describe the attenuating qualities of shielding layer materials in individual PPE. E experimentally determined values of these abovementioned quantities for the first part of the collection of PPE protecting against X- and gamma-ray were presented by Kozlovska [2].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
