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A well-fitting lead apron is essential to protect healthcare professionals and patients from harmful X-ray radiation.
Choosing the appropriate X-ray garment for your staff and patients can be overwhelming, given the many different styles, weights, thicknesses, and brands available. Over the past decade, we’ve cleaned and repaired over a million X-ray garments and have firsthand knowledge of all different types and uses in the medical field.
Safety precautions for radiation can help ensure you select the best protective gear for your needs. Protection against radiation is the goal when choosing your traditional lead, lightweight lead, or lead-free apron, and we want to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
There are three primary X-ray apron styles: Frontal, Vest & Skirt/Kilt Sets, and Wraparound (Full Aprons). The most popular are typically vest & skirt/kilt sets and frontal aprons because clinicians find them more comfortable to wear during longer periods.
Select the appropriate coverage and lead equivalence for the use case. Lead or lead-equivalent thickness directly impacts the ability to absorb and block radiation effectively.
Several factors must be considered to determine the required lead thickness for radiation protection. These factors include the intensity of radiation, energy level, duration of exposure, and the specific area of the body that needs protection. The calculation involves establishing an individual's maximum allowable radiation dose within a particular time.
Every facility has different protection requirements generally set by the Radiation Safety Officer. It's helpful to follow the ALARA principle, "As Low As Reasonably Achievable," when assessing the protection you need.
We recommend consulting your radiation safety officer for accurate calculations and optimal safety measures due to the complexity of the formula and the specialized knowledge required.
Attenuation is the material inside the apron that absorbs the radiation.
Manufacturers are developing more attenuation material options beyond traditional lead to reduce the garment's weight.
A study conducted by Mayo Clinic found that a percentage of radiology professionals reported job-related pain due to the weight of their lead aprons.
62% of technicians
60% of nurses
44% of attending physicians
The attenuation material options should all provide appropriate protection, depending on your requirements and the quality of the manufacturer. We have noticed that lightweight and lead-free garments tend to tear more quickly when not worn or stored properly. Fortunately, that can be prevented with proper care and storage.
Traditional lead aprons utilize lead as the sole attenuating material for radiation protection, offering reliable shielding against radiation exposure. However, they are notably heavy, and prolonged use may lead to musculoskeletal issues such as back pain.
Lightweight lead has become more popular because it's more comfortable for wearers. Lead is mixed with other metals, like antimony or bismuth, to make the attenuation material, to make the attenuation material lighter and more flexible. The metals mixed with the lead depend on the manufacturer.
Lead-free aprons are growing in popularity as a lighter-weight and non-toxic alternative. The attenuation is a blend of other heavy metals, such as aluminum, antimony, barium, bismuth, tin, titanium, or tungsten.
These options are not as heavy as lead aprons and create less environmental pollution when recycled.
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The apron's fit should be snug to your body to distribute the weight evenly. We dive into specifics below. Heavier aprons are typically less comfortable for wearers when worn for a long period.
The neckline should be high enough to provide seamless protection with a thyroid collar.
Armholes should be snug but not restrict arm movement. They should also cover the axillary lymph nodes, which are sensitive areas for radiation exposure.
The shoulder panel should be wide enough to distribute weight across the shoulder without restricting movement or causing discomfort.
Each panel on an overlap should provide complete protection for the wearer.
The aprons should cover from the collar to the knee.
The thyroid collar should fit snugly against the neck but not be uncomfortable and provide some overlap with the top of your vest or apron.
The cost of X-ray garments is dependent on the manufacturer, protective material, size, style, and even cosmetic factors such as fabric choice or embroidery. Traditional lead aprons are typically the least expensive, while lead-free garments tend to be higher in price. Our RPE Account Executives will work to find the best options within your budget.
Aprons and X-ray garments protect wearers from ionizing radiation, which can damage the body and potentially cause cancer. Aprons are worn by patients and staff who encounter X-ray radiation while receiving treatment or administering care.
Lead aprons absorb diagnostic X-rays to the parts of the body shielded by the apron. Lead or other attenuation materials are dense enough to block X-rays from reaching the body.
Aprons should be wiped after each use using approved wipes.
Aprons should be deep cleaned by professionals four times a year.
Aprons should be repaired immediately upon visible damage, and X-ray scanned annually to detect any damage to the attenuation material.
Lead is on the Toxic Substances List under the Environment Protection Act Registry, and it should not be disposed of as conventional garbage but as hazardous waste. When disposed of improperly, such materials pose contamination concerns for the environment.
Find a business, such as RCS, or apron manufacturer with an EPA-approved disposal program.
RCS is a master distributor of radiation protective equipment, such as X-ray garments, protective eyeglasses, lead barriers, and more, from several major manufacturers.
Our dedicated team will help you navigate the endless options available for X-ray garments based on your needs.
We provide sizing and fitting support for lead garment purchases and quick turnaround times.
When you purchase new X-ray garments through RCS, we automatically asset tag and inventory them, perform annual X-ray scans to verify the garment's integrity, and load the data into our cloud-based portal (RADCOMPLY™) for your records.
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