What is the purpose of shielding in radiography safety?

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Shielding in radiography safety is used to lower radiation exposure to parts of the body that are not the target of the exam. By placing lead or other attenuating material between the x-ray beam and sensitive tissues, radiation is absorbed or scattered before it can reach them. The goal is to minimize the dose to patient tissues and reduce the risk of radiation effects while still obtaining a diagnostic image. Shielding is commonly used for areas like the gonads or thyroid, especially for pediatric or reproductive-age patients, and it should be applied in a way that does not obscure anatomy or degrade image quality. This is why shielding is described as helping minimize patient dose and protecting tissues. It does not increase dose, it does have an effect, and it is not cosmetic.