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Lead
Historically, lead has been used for shielding ever since X-ray protection came into being. Lead based products are heavy and difficult to clean. The weight can lead to user fatigue, back pain, lost work time and occupational injury claims. Since lead is prone to cracking it must be replaced and reordered often. Extreme care must be taken when handling and storing lead garments. Should a lead garment slip off a table and crack, it may be leaking radiation to the user from that moment until the next inspection. Disposing of lead is expensive and requires special handling as it is a toxic metal.
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Lead Alternatives
Alternatives to 100% lead, such as garments made with antimony, tungsten and tin, are typically labeled lead-free or “light lead.” These contain toxic heavy metals and are susceptible to metal fatigue and damage from mishandling. Many provide only 0.25 mm or 0.35 mm lead equivalency. They are difficult to clean and, like lead, can absorb and retain odors and dirt from multiple users, making the garments unhygienic to use. Because these garments include heavy metals they require special, and costly, disposal methods. BLOXR XPF Technology provides an effective alternative that contains no lead or heavy metals.
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