Lead Aprons: Radiation Protection & How They Work

Lead aprons provide protection from high doses of radiation. The need for X-ray shielding has been recognized for almost a century, and lead has been one of the most commonly used materials in protective clothing.

How Lead Aprons Work

• Lead has a high atomic density. A layer as thin as 1/16 inch usually blocks almost 100 percent of radiation types encountered in health care and industrial settings. Lead aprons are designed to shield the major internal and reproductive organs. Most are knee length.

A Simple Design

• A six-foot sheet of No. 1 common-lead is often worn sarape-style, with a hole in the center of the sheet cut for the head. Tie it around the waste with a cloth belt.

Cautions

• This design is heavy, and a poor choice for day-long use. If it is tied poorly -- or left untied -- it might provide incomplete protection for the sides of the torso.