Radiation protection material

A lead-free radiation protection glove for protecting a wearer from scattered secondary radiation, the glove having an inner skin contacting surface and an outer surface and comprising:

• at least one layer of a rubber latex having radiation absorbing particles and a water soluble polymeric thickener distributed therein, all of the radiation absorbing particles in the glove being lead-free and consisting essentially of at least one lead-free heavy metal, at least one lead-free heavy metal oxide, or a combination thereof, the radiation absorbing particles having a particle size of less than about 10 μm and being dispersed within the latex at a concentration, by dry weight, sufficient for a glove having a thickness of about 0.3 mm to block at least about 30% of scattered secondary X-radiation at an intensity of about 60 kV and at least about 20% of scattered secondary X-radiation at an intensity of about 100 kV.