Radiation shielding is the process of limiting the penetration of radiation into the environment, by blocking with a barrier made of impermeable material. This protective barrier is usually formed of a material with high density, for example lead that absorbs the radiation.
Radiation sources are self-shielded with absorbing material incorporated into the equipment, adjacent to the source to reduce stray radiation to the surrounding area below dose limits.
Rooms with x-ray or other radiation equipment are additionally shielded with lead-lined walls to reduce the radiation exposure to humans within the facility. The amount of shielding required to protect against different kinds of radiation depends on how much energy they have. The shielding calculations are based on the half value layer of the primary radiation beam. Sufficient half value layers of shielding are calculated to reduce the radiation exposure outside the room to reasonable levels.
Personal shielding requirements depending on the type of radiation:
See also Radiation Safety.

Henri Becquerel demonstrated beta particles in 1900. Identical with electrons is there negative charge at -1. Their mass is 549 millionths of one AMU, 1/2000 of the mass of a proton or neutron. Beta particles consist of high energetic electrons emitted by radioactive nuclei or neutrons. By the process of beta decay, one of the neutrons in the nucleus is transformed into a proton and a new atom is formed which has one less neutron but one more proton in the core. Beta decay is accompanied by the emission of a positron (the antiparticle of the electron), a positive charged antineutrino. Beta particles have a greater range of penetration than alpha particles but less than gamma rays or x-rays. The name beta was coined by Rutherford in 1897. The traveling speed of beta particles depends on their energy. Because of their small mass and charge beta particles travel deep into tissues and cause cellular damage and possible cancer.

See also Radiation Shielding.

A broad beam describes a radiation shielding situation in which the beam impinging on a barrier surface is laterally extensive including scattered radiation.

A glove-box is an airtight box used to work with dusty, gaseous or radioactive materials to protect against radiation hazards.

See also Radiation Shielding and Absorber.

A leaded glove is used to reduce radiation hazards. Leaded gloves made of materials containing metallic lead or lead compounds, a radiation absorbing material.

See also Glove-Box, Absorber, Radiation Shielding, and Lead Equivalence.