An overview of the applicability of SNI IEC 61331-1:2016 on Lead apron for medical use

Abstract

Abstract The use of lead apron for radiation protection is regulated under the Indonesia Nuclear Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) Decree no. 8 year 2011 about Radiation Safety and the Use of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiological X-Ray Machine. It listed the apron specifications are as follows: having thickness equivalent to 0.2 mm Pb or 0.25 mm Pb for diagnostic use and equivalent to 0.35 mm Pb or 0.5 mm Pb for interventional use. Further, National Standardization Agency (BSN) had issued SNI IEC 61331-1:2016, providing guidance for testing the plate materials on the apron using 400 kV x-ray machine and 1.3 MeV gamma exposure with narrow beam, to measure the attenuation ratio and air kerma rate. The method used is to determine the attenuation ratio, build-up factors, and equivalent attenuation coefficient. There were 4 different aprons (A, B, C, and D) with 9 measurement points. The results showed the air kerma rate without apron was 0.664 mGy/second, the air kerma rate with lead-equivalent layer was 0.0006 mGy/second, and the best result was produced using the apron C, with the attenuation ratio ranging from 17.2 to 29.1, showing the most homogeneity.