What are the three principles of radiation protection?

The three principles of radiation protection are time, distance, and shielding. These principles are fundamentally designed to minimize radiation exposure to individuals.

Time refers to the duration of exposure to radiation. By reducing the amount of time spent near a radiation source, overall exposure is decreased, as the dose received is a function of time spent near that source.

Distance is the second principle and emphasizes maintaining an increased distance from radiation sources. The intensity of radiation decreases significantly with increasing distance, following the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. Thus, increasing distance effectively reduces the amount of radiation exposure.

Shielding involves using physical barriers to protect against radiation, such as lead or concrete, depending on the type of radiation. The effectiveness of shielding depends on the material's density and the energy of the radiation. Properly designed shielding can significantly reduce exposure from various radiation sources.

These three principles—time, distance, and shielding—form the foundation of effective radiation safety practices and are critical for protecting personnel and the public from unnecessary radiation exposure.