Evaluation of artisanal red brick as an X-ray shielding material.

Radiation has numerous applications that impact human life, among which medical diagnosis and radiation therapy are particularly significant. Ensuring radiation protection requires the prevention of deterministic effects and the minimization of stochastic effects. The use of ionizing radiation is governed by three fundamental protection principles: time, distance, and shielding. Shielding consists of interposing a suitable material between the radiation source and the object to be protected. Since not all materials exhibit the properties required for effective radiation attenuation, their characterization is essential. The aim of this study was to estimate the linear attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, air kerma, and ambient dose equivalent of artisanal red brick for potential application as an X-ray shielding material in the energy range of 30-120 keV, using Monte Carlo simulation methods. A narrow-beam transmission geometry experiment was modeled with the MCNP5 code, employing X-ray spectra generated by an X-ray tube as the source term. The results characterize the attenuation and dosimetric response of artisanal red brick for the modeled X-ray spectra and thicknesses, providing information on its potential shielding performance in the diagnostic X-ray energy range.