The term X-ray sounds familiar in every people’s mind as they must have had visited the local medical institution for carrying out X-ray, or must have heard of someone going through the same. During childhood, it was believed that X-ray is same as taking photograph, the only difference being that the room was always dark. However, X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation and is much more than just a photograph. Though being similar to normal light it is different with respect to the property that it can pass through objects and does not deviate in front of an opaque object.
X-ray being an electromagnetic radiation is useful in medical radiology for producing images of objects such as organs, bones, and detection of signs of injuries or diseases. The X-ray cassettes and screens developed are called the radiography. These are non-mobile image storing devices of the object, which is captured using a fluoroscope, called the X-ray machine. One of the largest use of X-ray is detecting motion within the specified area, and monitoring diagnostic treatment conducted in the area, using the X-ray films. These rays have a shorter wavelength which makes it possible to observe any element irrespective of its size being large or miniature. The variation in the wavelength is done to obtain different range of X-ray films, which depends on the need of the observer.
In spite of its advantage in the field of medicine and radiology for treating life-threatening diseases, it has a large number of harmful effects. The electromagnetic waves carry large amounts of energy, which can ionize the atoms in the body by destroying the molecular bond. The high use of X-ray machines exposes the user to radiation based sickness in short time, and small prolonged exposure leads to cancer due to radiation. The X-ray cassettes and screens are thus required to be kept in places away from the common areas so that the exposure to radiation is very low.
It is quite difficult to restrain oneself from the benefits of X-ray when it comes to medical use and thus people are exposed to its ill effect also. But what can be done to mitigate the harmful effects is using X-ray protective equipment made by safety equipment maker like Xena Shield. These include lead apron products such as glasses, masks, gloves, aprons, glass, shields for the technicians and doctors. The patients who are regularly in need of X-ray imaging can use Xena Shield’s product range like patient shields, thyroid shields and scatter drapes.
Lead aprons 