Ionactive interactive
All of Ionactive's interactive radiation protection resource in one convenient place. Choose from resource such as radioactive decay / radiation shielding / decay heat / volume source / neutron dose rate / specific activity etc; or educational widgets such as ALARP / counting statistics / radiation skyshine / how dose a maze (labyrinth) work / inverse square law etc. As of April 2026, we offer 34 individual interactive resources, all freely available for everyone with more coming soon.
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Diagnostic X-ray Shielding / Transmission Calculator
Published: Aug 23, 2025
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
A Diagnostic X-ray Shielding / Transmission Calculator by Ionactive. This resource can be used to explore transmission and shielding in a number of materials for the x-ray energy region of 25-150 kVp. The shielding materials include lead, concrete, steel, gypsum, plate glass and wood. Whilst advertised as a diagnostic x-ray calculator, since the x-ray data is taken from typical medical x-ray tubes (e.g. HVT of 3mm AL at 80 kVp), its potential use is far wider. This calculator can be used for basic primary shielding calculations in the medical sector, but does not consider workload, distance or occupancy. The calculator is flexible enough to be used in the research and industrial sectors when relatively low kVp x-rays are utilised. The analysis provided by the calculator is one of its significant features and is used to explore how transmission may be represented by 10th value & half value thickness (TVT & HVT). It also illustrates that whilst TVT/HVT is normally adequate for heavily attenuated photons (in this energy range), lighter attenuation can significantly over estimate shielding design if a fixed TVT/HVT is used. The calculator can also be used to choose alternative shielding materials for a given kV and desired transmission. The calculation process uses published resources (referenced) with some Ionactive algorithms to fill in for missing data. Future Ionactive calculators will explore medical radiation protection in further detail, particularly looking at how this data can be used to design diagnostic x-ray room shielding (where orientation, primary & secondary shielding, workload & occupancy also need to be considered).
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Beta Emitter Skin Dose Rate Calculator
Published: Aug 19, 2025
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
A beta emitter skin dose rate calculator by Ionactive. This calculator will estimate skin exposure (HP 0.07) from surface contamination of over 100 radioactive substances. Choose radionuclide activity and surface spread and calculate dose rate per hour or minute. Investigate effect of an air gap (e.g. between inner surface of contaminated glove and the skin). Modify the likely skin dose by considering use of shielding materials. Use the glove calculator to show the layers of glove material required to attenuate direct radiation exposure to the skin. Inputs and outputs can be specified in SI and Non-SI units. The calculation process uses published data (referenced) with some near field Ionactive algorithms for dose rates near to the skin, and through various cover material. Whilst we stand by the robustness of this calculator, we include an optional 'Varskin' selector to more directly align the calculator with expected varskin output (reasoning supplied in the detailed calculator release notes).
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Beta Emitter Activity to Dose Rate (in air) Calculator
Published: Aug 10, 2025
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
A beta emitter radioactivity to dose rate calculator by Ionactive. Choose a radionuclide and activity at a specified distance from the source (point or planar source), and output the dose rate (absorbed dose in air). Choose to show various shielding materials (air, tissue, acrylic, gloves) and see the thickness for total attenuation based on beta Emax (in Mev). All inputs and outputs can be specified in SI and Non-SI units. The calculation process uses published data (referenced) with some near field Ionactive algorithms for dose rates very close to the source.
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Radioactivity to Dose Rate Calculator (with shielding and dose rate ratio options)
Published: Jul 30, 2025
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
A radioactivity to dose rate to calculator by Ionactive. Choose a radionuclide and activity, and output the dose rate at a specified distance from the source (with or without shielding). Alternatively, specify a known dose rate and a desired dose rate, and output the thickness of shielding required for a given radionuclide at a desired distance. All inputs and outputs can be specified in SI and Non-SI units. The calculation process uses adaptive buildup to avoid under or over exaggerating the dose rate or shielding. As with our companion calculator (Dose Rate to Radioactivity), dose rate and shielding parameters have been validated with MicroShield and OpenMC.
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Radiation Units Conversion Calculator
Published: Jul 18, 2025
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
A handy Radiation Protection Units Conversion Calculator. Conversions for dose, dose rate, activity, shielding and exposure are included. SI and non-SI units are included.
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Radioactive Decay Calculator with Half-Life Analysis & Plotting
Published: Jul 15, 2025
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
A simple and useful radioactive decay calculator with Half-Life analysis and visual plotting. Select your radioactive material of choice, choose the decay period and calculate the remaining radioactivity. Will allow reverse calculations, so you can back calculate historic radioactivity based on the activity now. These features can be extended to setting dates and then calculating decay between them. Also calculate time taken to decay from activity A to smaller activity B. If you just want to look up a curated half-life just select the radionuclide of choice and it will be displayed below your selection. Decay calculation results are also presented as interactive plots which you can explore, zoom and save.
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In radiation protection I spend most of my time explaining to clients what they do not need to worry about.