By what percentage does a 2.0-mm copper filter reduce radiation dose?

A 2.0-mm copper filter is often used in fluoroscopy to reduce patient radiation dose by attenuating x-ray beams. Copper is an effective material for filtering out lower-energy x-rays that contribute minimally to image quality but increase the radiation dose to the patient.

The selected percentage, 70%, is representative of the attenuation properties of copper at this particular thickness. The filter significantly reduces the intensity of the x-ray beam by absorbing a large fraction of the lower-energy photons. This reduction in intensity directly correlates with a decrease in the radiation dose received by the patient, allowing for safer imaging procedures while maintaining necessary diagnostic quality.

Understanding the effectiveness of filtering materials, such as copper, and their thickness is crucial in the realm of radiation safety, especially in procedures like fluoroscopy where patient exposure is a concern. This is why the 70% reduction claimed is not only plausible but consistent with established data on filtering efficiency in radiographic contexts.