Are Antimony-Bismuth Aprons as Efficient as Lead Rubber Aprons in Providing Shielding against Scattered Radiation?

The aim of this study is to compare the absorption ability of two lead-free aprons with a lead apron.

The absorption ability of three aprons was measured and compared; Opaque Fusion 0.35 mm (OpaqFu) bilayer apron containing bismuth and antimony, No Lead 0.35 mm (NoLead) one-layer apron containing antimony, and a lead apron. The measurements were repeated with and without each of the aprons present in both primary and scattered beams. The selected tube voltages were between 60 and 113 kVp with constant mAs, a fixed field size, and fixed source-to-object distance.

No significant difference in absorption ability of the two lead-free aprons compared with that of the lead apron was observed when the dose was measured in the primary beam. When measurements were performed in the scatter radiation field, the absorption ability of the OpaqFu apron was 1.3 times higher than that of NoLead apron and nearly equal to the absorption ability of the lead apron. An increase in the difference between the OpaqFu and NoLead aprons was observed for the tube energies higher than 100 kVp in favour of OpaqFu apron.

It is safe to use the lead-free aprons that were tested in this study in a clinical environment for the tube energy range of 60 kVp-113 kVp.