Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: Table 6.11

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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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