Answer to Question #15332 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Equipment and Shielding — Equipment
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
I went to the dentist and had to take radiographs. The tube head was cracked and was mended using Scotch tape. I know the tube housing is manufactured using lead shielding to keep radiation contained. Is it safe for patients and workers to be exposed to radiation under such circumstances? Could there be a leakage of radiation from the x-ray tube if the tube housing is cracked?
If the actual x-ray tube housing is cracked, then yes, there would be additional x-ray leakage from the unit, and the unit should be removed from service and either repaired or replaced. It is, however, highly unlikely that the actual x-ray tube housing is cracked because a typical x-ray tube is surrounded by insulating oil inside the tube housing. If the tube housing cracked, the oil would leak out and the unit likely would no longer make x rays once the unit overheated. In addition, after talking with an x-ray service engineer, the type of force needed to break a metal tube housing is not seen with the operation of x-ray units. Most likely what you saw was a cracked plastic cover that is more decorative than functional.
Kennith Lovins, CHP