Public Health Emergency Preparedness
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Table 6.11. Reduction in Exposure by Sheltering
| Material – Structure or Location |
Relative Shielding Strength |
| Outside |
No reduction in exposure |
| Vehicle |
No reduction in exposure |
| Wooden frame house |
Slight reduction in exposure |
| Basement of wooden house |
Almost 50% reduction in exposure |
| Masonry home |
Almost 50% reduction in exposure |
| Basement of masonry house |
>50% reduction in exposure |
Large office or industrial building
(inner areas, away from windows) |
80% reduction in exposure |
Source: Adapted from Management of Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Material, Report 138, Table 8.5, p. 109. Bethesda, MD: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; October 2001. Used with permission.
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