USE OF GYPSUM WALLBOARD FOR DIAGNOSTIC-X-RAY PROTECTIVE BARRIERS

Type “X” gypsum wallboard, a readily available building material, has been evaluated for its radiation shielding properties for use in low-level medical X-ray applications. Attenuation and transmission curves are presented. Tables for use in barrier calculations are presented in the traditional form of the NCRP Report Nos. 35 and 49. Gypsum wallboard is not suited for use as a primary shielding material except in some dental applications. It is useful as a secondary barrier for facilities with low workloads, for mammography and dental suites, and for well-collimated beams, such as those used in computed tomography. © 1979 Health Physics Society.