What is the primary protective measure against gamma radiation?

The primary protective measure against gamma radiation is lead shielding. Gamma rays are highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation and require dense materials to effectively attenuate their intensity. Lead, due to its high atomic number and density, provides excellent radiation attenuation properties, making it a common choice for shielding in environments where gamma radiation is present.

Materials like plastic barriers, safety goggles, and rubber gloves do not offer sufficient protection against gamma radiation. Plastic can provide some degree of protection against lower-energy radiation, but it is not dense enough to significantly reduce the intensity of gamma radiation. Safety goggles are meant for eye protection and do not address radiation exposure at all, while rubber gloves are typically used to protect against contamination and shielding from beta or alpha particles, but they do not provide any substantial protection against gamma rays. Therefore, lead shielding remains the most effective and universally used protective measure in scenarios involving gamma radiation exposure.