What practice is used to minimize radiation exposure in imaging?

• A. Time, Distance, and Shielding
• B. Time, Distance, and Handling
• C. Distance, Shielding, and Monitoring
• D. Shielding, Monitoring, and Time

Answer: (A)

Minimizing radiation exposure in imaging relies on the principle of ALARA: keep exposure as low as reasonably achievable by controlling time, distance, and shielding. Reducing exposure time means using the shortest possible imaging duration and relying on proper technique and automatic exposure controls to avoid repeats. Increasing distance from the radiation source lowers dose significantly due to the inverse square relationship, so staying as far away as practicable from the beam and using protective barriers when possible helps protect personnel. Shielding involves placing barriers and wearing protective equipment like lead aprons, thyroid shields, and leaded shields to block scattered and direct radiation. While handling practices and exposure monitoring are important for overall safety, they do not directly reduce the per-exam dose the way time, distance, and shielding do.