## 1 Introduction
Furthermore, the majority of the participants in the survey exhibited insufficient adherence to radiation safety protocols [16]. Similarly, [PERSON] reported nurses exhibiting poorer radiation safety knowledge and compliance but higher risk perceptions than other healthcare professionals, thereby requiring interventions that link threat perception to safety behavior [17]. In addition, a global survey of 258 interventional echocardiographers revealed significant variability in radioprotection measures, with respondents underusing protective devices, receiving limited training, and being poorly aware of radiation doses [18]. As emphasized by the call for action from international scientific societies, improved radioprotection training, dose assessment, and shielding are urgently needed. Consequently, radiation shielding is increasingly an essential component of contemporary radiation protection strategies since it mitigates the risks associated with ionizing radiation. This encompasses radiation source shielding supplied by the equipment manufacturer and structural shielding for rooms containing diagnostic or radiation therapy apparatuses. Moreover, medical operations often use lead-based materials, including lead aprons, portable lead shields, lead spectacles, and fixed lead barriers, to facilitate radiation attenuation. The ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle was established to maintain radiation exposure at minimal levels to reduce dangers while fulfilling diagnostic or therapeutic objectives. It is based on the guidelines of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 9 from 1966, which underscored the need of maintaining radiation doses to be as low and as feasible in practice to mitigate hazards while still fulfilling diagnostic or therapeutic objectives [19]. It is predicated on the linear no-threshold concept (LNT), which posits that even slight radiation exposure has some danger and should be mitigated. As a result, there is greater appeal in developing novel radiation shielding materials, with a significant focus on the structure-property relationships of composites infused with metal oxides. This research provides valuable insights into the development and performance of metal oxide-infused composites for radiation shielding purposes [20; 21; 22; 23]. Polyisoprene (Natural Rubber, NR) is primarily composed of polyisoprene, itself comprising repeat isoprene (C\({}_{5}\)H\({}_{8}\)) units. As the main elements of polyisoprene are carbon, with an atomic number of 6, and hydrogen, with an atomic number of 1, it is ineffective as a gamma radiation shield. Consequently, studies have shown that the addition of high-Z and high-density compounds increase the gamma attenuation of NR [24; 25; 26]. This research thoroughly examines the formulation and assessment of NR augmented with tungsten oxide (WO\({}_{3}\)) for their potential as radiation-shielding materials, specifically for Tc-99m applications. Moreover, this study is unique as it combines sophisticated computational techniques, including XCOM: photon cross section database (version 1.5) and PhyX/PSD software available at [[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335993372_PhyX_PSD_Development_of_a_user_friendly_online_software_for_calculation_of_parameters_relevant_to_radiation_shielding_and_dosimetry](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335993372_PhyX_PSD_Development_of_a_user_friendly_online_software_for_calculation_of_parameters_relevant_to_radiation_shielding_and_dosimetry)]([https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335993372_PhyX_PSD_Development_of_a_user_friendly_online_software_for_calculation_of_parameters_relevant_to_radiation_shielding_and_dosimetry](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335993372_PhyX_PSD_Development_of_a_user_friendly_online_software_for_calculation_of_parameters_relevant_to_radiation_shielding_and_dosimetry)) (accessed date 25 November 2024), with additional practical simulations using anthropomorphic phantoms to symbolize the human anatomy.