A proposal for the performance evaluation of 0.5 mm lead aprons used in nuclear medicine

The lead apron plays a crucial role in radiation protection and is extensively used in medical institutions. Periodic performance evaluations, involving visual inspections and transmission imaging, are conducted annually. This research aims to propose a performance evaluation method for 0.5 mm lead aprons used in nuclear medicine departments. The experiments were conducted using transmission imaging and source-based evaluation methods, involving two lead aprons with <1 year of use and two other aprons used for over 10 years. The experimental results indicate that using 50 kVp for transmission imaging is appropriate to detect cracks in the lead aprons. Additionally, in the case of lead aprons used for >10 years, the measured attenuation rate was found to be ~3-5% lower, depending on the measurement method. Consequently, a performance evaluation, including crack detection and actual attenuation rate measurements, should be carried out for lead aprons used long-term to ensure efficacy of radiation protection.