Nuclear and radiological protective clothing

Nuclear and radiological protective materials can be used as protection from ionizing radiations. Gamma rays, X-rays, and alpha and beta particles are some examples of ionizing radiation to which personnel from industry, diagnostic labs, or treatment facilities can be exposed. In different industries, such as mining and milling, medical institutions, educational and research establishments, and nuclear fuel facilities, sufficient radiation protection for workers is necessary for the safe and satisfactory use of radiation, radioactive elements, and nuclear power. In these cases it is necessary to supply adequate protective clothing to individual workers to provide protection against actual or potential exposures to ionizing radiations. The development of textiles to provide protection against ionizing radiation has received increased attention recently. This chapter briefly discusses the characteristics of the ionizing radiation and their counter-measure approaches using textile materials as protective clothing for radiation exposure.