Radiation-attenuating surgical gloves: effects of scatter and secondary electron production.

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of scatter and secondary electron production on the protection provided by flexible radiation-attenuating gloves. Four sets of radiation-attenuating flexible gloves and one set of standard surgical gloves were tested for scattering characteristics and secondary electron production caused by the interactions of x rays inside the gloves. A thin-window ion chamber was used to measure the penetration of secondary electrons in polyethylene. A diagnostic-type chamber was used to measure forward-scattered and backscattered x rays produced by the gloves. Forward-scattered and backscattered x rays added an average of about 13% to the exposure of the hands. Secondary electrons increased the signal in the thin-window chamber by large factors but were weakly penetrating, and only a small fraction produced by x rays of 90 kVp and higher energies contributed to dose to basal cells. Forward-scattered and backscattered x rays reduce the effectiveness of radiation-attenuating gloves, and secondary electron dose to basal cells in the back of the hand can further reduce effectiveness.