title: Clinical Evaluation of Protective Garments with Respect to Garment Characteristics and Manufacturer Label Information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test operator exposures inside radiation protection garments in a simulated clinical setup, examining trends related to multiple characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen garment models containing lead or nonlead materials and a suspended device (Zero-Gravity) were tested for operator exposure from X rays scattered from an acrylic patient phantom. Weight and surface area were determined. The operator phantom was a wooden frame containing a dosimeter in its cavity. Garments were draped over the frame, and the setup was placed in a typical working position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was substantial variability in exposures for all garments, ranging from 0.52 to 13.8 µSv/h (mean, 5.39 µSv/h ± 3.82), with a 12-fold difference for garments labeled 0.5 mm Pb equivalent. Most of the especially poor protectors were nonlead, even when not lightweight. Nonlead models were not more protective per weight overall. For closed-back garments labeled 0.5 mm Pb equivalent, mean exposures were lower for lead than for nonlead materials (mean, 1.48 µSv/h ± 0.434 vs 6.26 µSv/h ± 5.13, respectively). Density per exposure-1was lower for lead than nonlead materials in the 0.5-mm Pb equivalent group, counter to advertised claims. Open-back configurations were lighter than closed (3.3 kg vs 6.0 kg, respectively), with similar mean exposures (5.30 µSv/h vs 5.39 µSv/h, respectively). The lowest exposure was 0.52 µSv/h (9.8% of the mean of all garments) for the suspended device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Operator exposure in a realistic interventional setup is highly variable for similarly labeled protective garments, highlighting the necessity of internal validation when considering nonlead and lightweight models.
authors: Departments of Radiology, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address: andrew.lichliter@bswhealth.org.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Lichliter
authors: Medical Physics and Radiation Safety, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, Texas.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Weir
authors: Departments of Radiology, Dallas, Texas.
authors: Robert Evans
authors: RE
authors: Heithaus
authors: Departments of Radiology, Dallas, Texas.
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Gipson
authors: Departments of Radiology, Dallas, Texas.
authors: Almas
authors: A
authors: Syed
authors: Departments of Radiology, Dallas, Texas.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: West
authors: Departments of Radiology, Dallas, Texas.
authors: Chet
authors: C
authors: Rees
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011356:Product Labeling; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000072177:Radiologists; D012542:Scattering, Radiation