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Updated: May 17, 2026
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X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging
Published on: September 11, 2011
Reducing radiation exposure using commonly available objects
Daisuke Kobayashi1, Masao Miyake, Takeyasu Kakamu
1Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan. coba@fmu.ac.jp
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
|November 6, 2012
Summary
Simple shielding materials like thick magazines or wooden boards can significantly reduce radiation exposure from contaminated soil. This study evaluated everyday items for effective radiation protection in Fukushima.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiation Protection
- Nuclear Safety
Background:
- Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster created an existing exposure situation in Fukushima Prefecture.
- Residents in contaminated areas lack sufficient information for self-directed radiation exposure reduction.
- Environmental radiation dose rates were not critical, but ongoing exposure necessitates protective measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the radiation shielding efficiency of common, everyday items.
- To provide practical information for residents to reduce radiation exposure.
- To assess the effectiveness of readily available materials for radiation protection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized NaI scintillation and Geiger-Müller survey meters for radiation measurements.
- Measured radiation dose rates of contaminated soil.
- Measured radiation dose rates of contaminated soil covered with various everyday items.
Main Results:
- Covering contaminated soil with a 20 mm thick magazine reduced radiation dose rate from 3.36 to 0.65 μSv/h.
- A 20 mm thick wooden board also demonstrated significant radiation reduction.
- Polystyrene foam boards of similar thickness also showed shielding effects.
Conclusions:
- A 20 mm thick wooden board or magazine is effective in reducing radiation dose from contaminated soil.
- These everyday items offer a practical method for residents to mitigate radiation exposure.
- Implementing simple shielding measures can help protect residents in existing exposure situations.
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