Danger
Radiation safety is extremely important in radiology departments because X-ray machines, CT scanners and nuclear medicine scanners all depend on ionizing radiation to produce images that physicians use to make diagnoses. Ionizing radiation is dangerous because it causes cell damage.
History
When X-rays were discovered in 1895, no one knew how dangerous ionizing radiation was. Ionizing radiation splits fragments of DNA and creates free radicals in cytoplasm. Reproductive cells are particularly sensitive.
Shielding
The problem with X-rays is they penetrate almost any kind of material. They pass through walls as if they weren't there.
Diagnosis
The ability of X-rays to penetrate almost any material is what makes them so useful for medical diagnosis. They easily pass through soft tissue like muscle and fat but not as easily through more dense tissue like bone.
Safety
To protect users and patients, radiology departments are built with lead shielding. The lead is in the walls of the X-ray rooms and in the glass panels technologists use to watch patients while they take their X-rays. All radiation workers wear badges that record any radiation they are exposed to.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine relies on radioactive isotopes injected into patients' blood streams. Then a special camera is used to follow the isotopes. After a few hours or days have passed, the radioactivity is gone.
Beam
Some X-ray procedures require personnel to be in the room during the procedure. For these kinds of procedures, they wear protective lead aprons. All radiation workers wear badges that record any radiation they are exposed to.
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