Lead Radiation Protection Apparel (RPA) is routinely used for radiation protection of patients, accompanying persons and personnel during diagnostic and interventional procedures. Shielded aprons, gonad shields, thyroid shields and shielded gloves are routinely used RPAs and often contain lead as a radiation protective material. The construction method and lead content of radiation protection garments varies by manufacturer, but traditionally lead powder with or without other metals is mixed with rubber or polyvinyl chloride to form sheets, which are then sewn on the inside of nylon...

QC was performed on 528 different types of RPA, such as half aprons, aprons, collar, gloves, gonad shields and vests, in 69 diagnostic imaging centres in Greece, Lithuania, Spain and Turkey. The number of RPA per department, type and year manufactured are presented in Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively. RPA were uniquely labelled per facility, department and type and assessed for lead dust presence using the 3MTMLeadCheckTMcolorimetric method. The method utilizes a small pen type device to apply a special agent on the RPA...

This study demonstrates that lead dust is present on lead RPA with the most frequently contaminated being aprons which are larger and heavier than others and could be improperly stored and handled causing damage to the interior and exterior surfaces. Colars are the second most frequently contaminated probably due to folding. Aprons and colars are most frequently used in Radiography departments thus being the department with the highest percentage of contaminated RPA as demonstrated by the study. Following cleaning of the contaminated RPA, 53% tested...

C. Paraskevopoulou; Amsterdam/NL - nothing to disclose M. Barati; Budapest/HU - nothing to disclose H. Tekin; Istanbul/TR - nothing to disclose N. Blazquez; Madrid/ES - nothing to disclose R. Griskevicius; Vilnius/LT - nothing to disclose E. Kostopoulou; Athens/GR - nothing to disclose M. Vaišvilaite; Vilnius/LT - nothing to disclose B. Cavli; Istanbul/TR - nothing to disclose K. Katsari; Amsterdam/NL - nothing to disclose

Burns KM et al. (2017), Lead Aprons are a lead Exposure Hazard. J Am Coll Radiol DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2016.10.024. Barati M, Illing R, Kardos L, Paraskevopoulou C, Katsari K. (2019), Should testing for lead contamination be included in leadradiation protection apparel quality control? (B-1200), ECR 2019. 3MTMLeadCheckTM Swabs (2012), http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/815979O/3mtm-leadchecktm-tri-fold-brochure-08-28-2012.pdf. World Health Organization (WHO) (2018), Lead poisoning and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health.