Lead aprons are used in medical applications as a traditional shielding material, but this use was faced by many health problems including toxicity, heavyweight, and cracks, this motivated researchers to develop new shielding materials, to overcome these health problems depending on some promising materials, i.e., nanomaterials and polymers, which provide many properties that overcome the undesirable properties in lead aprons, and provide the proper or better shielding properties against ionizing radiation. Recently, nanomaterials in different forms have attracted considerable attention for radiation shielding applications, due to their prominent chemical and physical properties. This work will review the basics of radiation, radiation protection, lead aprons, nanomaterials, synthesis and characterization methods, polymers, and the scientific efforts to introduce nanocomposites as materials used in attenuation radiation beams and hence, to be used as proper radiation shielding materials.

This study aimed to perform an investigation for the potential implementation of bismuth silicate glasses as novel shield equipment instead of ordinary shields in nuclear medicine facilities. Accordingly, a group of Bi₂O₃ reinforced silicate glass system were investigated and compared with ordinary shields in terms of their gamma-ray attenuation properties in diagnostic nuclear medicine radioisotope energies emitted from ^99mTc, ¹¹¹In, ⁶⁷Ga, ¹²³I, ¹³¹I, ^81mKr, ²⁰¹Tl, ¹³³Xe. Mass attenuation coefficient $({\mathsf{\mu }}_{\mathrm{m}})$results for glass samples were calculated comparatively with the XCOM program and MCNPX code. The gamma-ray attenuation parameters such as half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Z_eff) were obtained in the diagnostic gamma ray energy range from 75 to 336 keV. To confirm the attenuation performance of superior sample, obtained results were extensively compared with ordinary shielding materials. According to the results obtained, BISI6 glass sample with the highest Bi₂O₃ additive has an excellent gamma-ray protection.

Lead borate glasses of the system 25PbO-(75-x) B₂O₃-xCuO (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1) in mol.% were synthesized via the traditional melt quenching method abbreviated as (BPbCu0, BPbCu1, BPbCu2, and BPbCu3) respectively. XRD diffraction confirmed the amorphous nature of the samples. According to FTIR spectroscopy, the function groups (BO₃ and BO₄) and the fraction of boron tetrahedral units (N₄) were determined. The density, molar volume, packing density, and some other physical parameters were calculated and discussed. The density was increased by incorporating CuO as a substitution for B₂O₃, while the molar volume was decreased. The ion concentrations of Cu, inter-nuclear distance, field strength, and polaron radius were also computed. The optical absorption study suggested that the copper ions exist in the Cu²⁺ and act as a modifier by increasing the disorder in the glass network. Hence, the present glass behaves as a bandpass filter in the UV–vis. region. The radiation shielding properties of the as-prepared samples were theoretically calculated using the Phy-X program at energies ranging from 0.015 to 1.5 MeV. The linear and mass attenuation coefficients, as well as the half-value layer (HVL) and exposure buildup factor (EBF), have been evaluated. The results revealed that shielding parameters are affected by CuO concentrations and photon energy. Based on the results presented in the manuscript, the glass sample with 0.1 mol% CuO doping (BPbCu3) showed the best properties overall for optical and radiation shielding applications. Specifically, BPbCu3 had the highest density, refractive index, optical dielectric constant, and radiation shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient and half value layer among the glass samples. The addition of 0.1 mol% CuO introduced Cu²⁺ ions which acted as network modifiers, increasing the disorder in the glass structure. This in turn enhanced the optical bandgap as well as the shielding capabilities against gamma radiation.

Radon-based radiation is a significant issue that can affect resident health as a contributory source of natural radiation from soil construction materials. This study investigates the effect of windcatchers on radon activity concentrations and radon exhalation rate from the soil surface in traditional adobe houses of Yazd, Iran. Radon concentrations were measured by passive detectors in 16 adobe houses. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed for different wind speed to calculate ventilation rate. The concentrations of ²²²Rn were in the ranges of 22 ± 1–117 ± 8 Bq m⁻³ with an average value of 50 ± 3 Bq m⁻³. The radon exhalation rates values were in the range of 8.3 ± 0.1 to 47.2 ± 0.5 Bq m⁻² h⁻¹. Radon concentration results in only one dwelling site were higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization. The annual radon inhalation dose was found in seven sites higher than the worldwide average.

Background:To date in Saudi Arabia, a limited number of studies conducted to assess radiation doses received by pediatrics in computed tomography (CT) brain procedure. National diagnostic reference levels (NDRL) have been established for adults, but neither NDRL’s nor Local diagnostic reference levels (LDRL) have been established for pediatric patients. Objective: This study aimed to assess radiation doses experienced by pediatric patients in CT brain procedure, and derive LDRLs. Materials and methods: The values of three radiological indexes: volume CT dose index (CTDI_vol) and dose-length product (DLP) were assessed. Then effective dose (ED) were estimated, and LDRLs are suggested for CT procedures based on data retrieved from 353 pediatric patients aged between 0 and 15 years old. LDRLs were estimated based on age and weight. Results: Built on 75 percent of the median distribution of the CTDI_vol and DLP values, weight assemblage LDRL values ranged from 12.29 to 28.72 mGy and from 173.32 to 565.38 mGy.cm, respectively, whereas age assemblage LDRL values ranged from 11.76 to 25.07 mGy and from 147.04 to 479.23 mGy.cm, respectively. Conclusion: This study derived the typical CTDI_vol, DLP, and ED received by pediatric patient during CT brain procedure in Saudi Arabia. Then, LDRLs were proposed based on age and weight for pediatric patients aged between 0 to 15 years old.