Which statement best describes how backscatter can be mitigated?

• A. Shielding and distance
• B. Increasing mA
• C. Using brighter screens
• D. Longer exposure times

Answer: (A)

Backscatter is the secondary radiation that bounces back toward the operator after the X-ray beam interacts with matter. To reduce this exposure, shielding and distance are the most effective protections. Shielding with lead barriers or aprons attenuates scattered photons before they reach you. Increasing distance from the source reduces exposure dramatically due to the inverse-square law—the further you are, the less scatter you receive.

Options that raise the beam’s output, such as higher current or longer exposure, increase the amount of scatter produced and thus can worsen exposure risk. Using brighter screens doesn’t address the scatter reaching the operator, and longer exposure times simply add more photons and more scatter.