What effort would best reduce radiation exposure to a technologist during a mobile chest x-ray?

Standing 6 feet from the x-ray tube during the exposure is the best practice to reduce radiation exposure for a technologist performing a mobile chest x-ray. The principle that supports this practice is the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation decreases with the square of the distance from the source. By increasing distance from the x-ray tube, the technologist significantly reduces their exposure to scattered radiation during the imaging process.

When a technologist stands further away, they not only reduce their direct exposure to the primary beam but also limit their exposure to scatter radiation that is produced when the x-rays interact with the patient's body. This is particularly important in a mobile setting where the control panel may not be behind a protective barrier, increasing the risk of radiation exposure.

Other options, while they may have some merit, do not effectively reduce exposure as effectively as maintaining a safe distance. For example, wearing lead gloves may protect against hand exposure but does not address body exposure and does not eliminate overall risk when a technologist is near the radiation source. Positioning the patient closer to the x-ray tube reverses the beneficial effects of distance, thereby increasing the technologist's exposure. Using a higher mAs setting would likely result in a greater amount of radiation being