Absorbers consist of material that stops ionizing radiation. For example, lead, steel and concrete attenuate x-rays. Alpha particles and most beta particles can be stopped or absorbed by a sheet of paper or thin metal.
The absorption depends on the atomic number, density, thickness, etc. of the used material.
The interactions between the radiation and the absorber are three major processes: photoelectric absorption, Compton scattering, and pair production.

See also Absorption.

The x-ray absorption is the uptake of energy or the decrease of the number of photons by the tissue or matter through which the radiation travels.
Absorption in nuclear reactions and particulate radiation is a process of taking up kinetic energy of particles or the combination of particles with an atom, a nucleus, or another particle.
Absorption characteristics of imaged tissues are represented by their linear attenuation coefficients.

See also Absorber.

Gamma rays are a form of nuclear radiation that consists of photons emitted by radioactive elements from the nucleus. This high energetic light emission is also produced from subatomic particle interaction, such as electron positron annihilation. Gamma radiation, similar to x-radiation can injure and destroy tissue, especially cell nuclei.
Gamma rays have in general very high frequencies, short wavelengths, are electrically neutral and penetrate matter. The interaction of gamma rays with matter depends on the nature of the absorber as well as the energy of the gamma rays; these interactions determine also the type and amount of shielding needed for radiation protection.

See also Radiation Safety, Lead Equivalence, Lead Apron, Leaded Glove, Glove-Box, Radioactive Decay Law and Radiation Worker.

A glove-box is an airtight box used to work with dusty, gaseous or radioactive materials to protect against radiation hazards.

See also Radiation Shielding and Absorber.

A leaded glove is used to reduce radiation hazards. Leaded gloves made of materials containing metallic lead or lead compounds, a radiation absorbing material.

See also Glove-Box, Absorber, Radiation Shielding, and Lead Equivalence.